Nonlinear cavity optomechanics with nanomechanical thermal fluctuations.

ABSTRACT: Although the interaction between light and motion in cavity optomechanical systems is inherently nonlinear, experimental demonstrations to date have allowed a linearized description in all except highly driven cases. Here, we demonstrate a nanoscale optomechanical system in which the interaction between light and motion is so large (single-photon cooperativity C₀≈10³) that thermal motion induces optical frequency fluctuations larger than the intrinsic optical linewidth. The system thereby operates in a fully nonlinear regime, which pronouncedly impacts the optical response, displacement measurement and radiation pressure backaction. Specifically, we measure an apparent optical linewidth that is dominated by thermo-mechanically induced frequency fluctuations over a wid

SUBMITTER: Leijssen R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5504350 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature