Electro-Optomechanical Modulation Instability in a Semiconductor Resonator

Abstract

In semiconductor nano-optomechanical resonators, several forms of light-matter interaction can enrich the canonical radiation pressure coupling of light and mechanical motion, and give rise to new dynamical regimes. Here we observe an electro-optomechanical modulation instability in a Gallium Arsenide disk resonator. The regime is evidenced by the concomitant formation of regular and dense combs in the radio-frequency and optical spectrums of the resonator, associated with a permanent pulsatory dynamics of the mechanical motion and optical intensity. The mutual coupling between light, mechanical oscillations, carriers and heat, notably through photothermal interactions, stabilizes an extended mechanical comb in the ultra-high frequency range, which can be controlled optically.

Floquet control of optomechanical bistability in multimode systems

“…with θ(t) = Ω mod t + θ 0 . This indicates that an increasing modulation depth d involves increasingly many driving tones beyond the usual first order expansion [37][38][39][40][41][42].…”

“…In addition to the dispersive optomechanical coupling, the cavity in experimental setups absorbs photons and heats up which in turn changes its refractive index and geometry. We acknowledge and model the heating process by the dynamics of the temperature deviation δ Ṫ(t) = g abs |α| 2 (t) − γ th δT(t)/2 and the resulting shift of the optical cavity frequency ω op ≈ ω op ( T) + ∂ω op ∂T (T(t) − T) = ω 0 + g T δT(t), due to this photo-thermo-refractive-shift mechanism (PTRS) [37][38][39][40][41][42]. Here, g abs denotes the temperature change due to linear photon absorption, γ th the thermalization rate, and g T parametrizes the linear thermal shift of the optical frequency.…”

Enhanced Cavity Optomechanics with Quantum-well Exciton Polaritons

“…Optomechanical interactions represent an essential resource for augmented sensing techniques [1][2][3][4], in nonlinear optics [5][6][7], and to investigate quantum phenomena in macroscopic systems [8][9][10][11]. Furthermore, coherent phonon scattering is an appealing route to implement microwave-to-optical transducers [12][13][14], necessary to interface distant superconducting quantum hardware [15][16][17][18].…”

Vibrational Resonance Amplification in a Thermo-Optic Optomechanical Nanocavity

“…27 Thus, complex dynamics can emerge due to a combination of thermo-optic and optomechanical nonlinearities enabling utilization in sensing applications, 28 chaos generation, 29 or electro-optomechanical self-oscillation. 30 While stochastic resonance has been observed in optomechanical systems, 31,32 VR remains unexplored both theoretically and experimentally. Within this framework, VR in optical nanocavities supporting simultaneously mechanical modes and nonlinearities is a key development for potential nanophotonic and optomechanical applications.…”

“…The usefulness of optical nanocavities has also largely been demonstrated to sense or manipulate mechanical vibrations . Thus, complex dynamics can emerge due to a combination of thermo-optic and optomechanical nonlinearities enabling utilization in sensing applications, chaos generation, or electro-optomechanical self-oscillation …”