Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 February 2011
The design of microresonators with high natural frequencies (1 MHz to 1 GHz) and low structural damping is essential for devices used for applications in communications. Here, we report experimental measurements of damping at low pressure and ambient temperature in electrostatically-actuated, metallized silicon carbide microresonators. Comparison of the measured values with the predictions of a model for thermoelastic damping indicates that the contribution of this mechanism to the measured damping ranges from 10% to 50% over a broad frequency range (3 MHz to 30 MHz).