Article

# Optomechanical Coupling in a Two-Dimensional Photonic Crystal Defect Cavity

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Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, EPFL, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
(Impact Factor: 7.51). 05/2011; 106(20):203902. DOI: 10.1109/CLEOE.2011.5943171
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT Periodically structured materials can sustain both optical and mechanical
modes. Here we investigate and observe experimentally the optomechanical
properties of a conventional two-dimensional suspended photonic crystal defect
cavity with a mode volume of $\sim$$3(\lambda/n)^{3}$. Two families of
mechanical modes are observed: flexural modes, associated to the motion of the
whole suspended membrane, and localized modes with frequencies in the GHz
regime corresponding to localized phonons in the optical defect cavity of
diffraction-limited size. We demonstrate direct measurements of the
optomechanical vacuum coupling rate using a frequency calibration technique.
The highest measured values exceed 250 kHz, demonstrating strong coupling of
optical and mechanical modes in such structures.

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Available from: Emanuel Gavartin, Sep 26, 2015
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• "When combined with optical non-linearities our tunable PM paves the way to dynamically controlled high-fidelity entanglement generation [24] and distribution on a chip [25] [26]. For larger switching rates as required for Landau-Zener-transition based gates [17], the underlying optomechanical coupling could be enhanced further by direct SAW excitation of localized vibronic modes of PCM nanocavities [23] or shaped SAW waveforms [18]. Finally we note, that our approach could be directly scaled up to large arrays of coupled cavities [27] [28] or employed in superconducting two-level systems, which have recently been strongly coupled to single SAW quanta [29] "
##### Article: Dynamic acousto-mechanical control of a strongly coupled photonic molecule
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ABSTRACT: Two-dimensional photonic crystal membranes provide a versatile planar architecture for integrated photonics to control the propagation of light on a chip employing high quality optical cavities, waveguides, beamsplitters or dispersive elements. When combined with highly non-linear quantum emitters, quantum photonic networks operating at the single photon level come within reach. Towards large-scale quantum photonic networks, selective dynamic control of individual components and deterministic interactions between different constituents are of paramount importance. This indeed calls for switching speeds ultimately on the system's native timescales. For example, manipulation via electric fields or all-optical means have been employed for switching in nanophotonic circuits and cavity quantum electrodynamics studies. Here, we demonstrate dynamic control of the coherent interaction between two coupled photonic crystal nanocavities forming a photonic molecule. By using an electrically generated radio frequency surface acoustic wave we achieve optomechanical tuning, demonstrate operating speeds more than three orders of magnitude faster than resonant mechanical approaches. Moreover, the tuning range is large enough to compensate for the inherent fabrication-related cavity mode detuning. Our findings open a route towards nanomechanically gated protocols, which hitherto have inhibited the realization in all-optical schemes.
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• "We note in passing that different phase configurations can lead to identical flux patterns, reflecting the gauge invariance of Maxwell's equations under the transformation A → A + ∇ξ(r) for any scalar function ξ. Every defect in an optomechanical crystal [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] supports a localized vibrational (annihilation operatorˆb, eigenfrequency Ω 0 ) and optical mode (ˆ a, frequency ω cav ) that interact via radiation pressure, giving rise to the standard optomechanical interaction [1]: "
##### Article: Optomechanical creation of magnetic fields for photons on a lattice
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ABSTRACT: We propose using the optomechanical interaction to create artificial magnetic fields for photons on a lattice. The ingredients required are an optomechanical crystal, i.e. a piece of dielectric with the right pattern of holes, and two laser beams with the right pattern of phases. One of the two proposed schemes is based on optomechanical modulation of the links between optical modes, while the other is an lattice extension of optomechanical wavelength-conversion setups. We illustrate the resulting optical spectrum, photon transport in the presence of an artificial Lorentz force, edge states, and the photonic Aharonov-Bohm effect. Moreover, wWe also briefly describe the gauge fields acting on the synthetic dimension related to the phonon/photon degree of freedom. These can be generated using a single laser beam impinging on an optomechanical array.
Optica 02/2015; 2(7). DOI:10.1364/OPTICA.2.000635
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• "Currently the most promising platform are optomechanical crystals, i.e. photonic crystals engineered to contain localized vibrational and optical modes. Single-mode optomechanical systems based on that concept have been demonstrated experimentally, with very favorable parameters [14] [15] [16] [17] [18]. Ab-initio simulations indicate the feasibility of arrays [19] [20] [21]. "
##### Article: Optomechanical Dirac Physics
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ABSTRACT: Recent progress in optomechanical systems may soon allow the realization of optomechanical arrays, i.e. periodic arrangements of interacting optical and vibrational modes. We show that photons and phonons on a honeycomb lattice will produce an optically tunable Dirac-type band structure. Transport in such a system can exhibit transmission through an optically created barrier, similar to Klein tunneling, but with interconversion between light and sound. In addition, edge states at the sample boundaries are dispersive and enable controlled propagation of photon-phonon polaritons.
New Journal of Physics 10/2014; 17(2). DOI:10.1088/1367-2630/17/2/023025 · 3.56 Impact Factor