Electron-beam-controlled volatile nanomechanical bistability

Bistability in nanomechanical resonators can be exploited for sensing, signal processing, and memory applications due to its potential for switching and high sensitivity to external stimuli. External vibration can be used to drive a doubly-clamped nanowire into the nonlinear regime of bistable oscillation. Here, we experimentally demonstrate that the bistable oscillation of such a nonlinear nanomechanical resonator can be controlled, switched and read by an electron beam.