Method for generating and measuring static and dynamic small forces

Abstract

The author has proposed a method, the Levitation Mass Method (LMM). In the LMM, the inertial force of a mass levitated using a pneumatic linear bearing is used as the reference force applied to the objects under test, such as force transducers, materials or structures. The inertial force of the levitated mass is measured using an optical interferometer. In this paper, the previous achievement, the recent achievements, and the future prospects on the methods of generating and measuring the static and dynamic micro-Newton level forces based on the LMM are discussed.