Resonant Optomechanics with a Vibrating Carbon Nanotube and a Radio-Frequency Cavity

In an optomechanical setup, the coupling between cavity and resonator can be increased by tuning them to the same frequency. We study this interaction between a carbon nanotube resonator and a radio-frequency tank circuit acting as a cavity. In this resonant regime, the vacuum optomechanical coupling is enhanced by the dc voltage coupling the cavity and the mechanical resonator. Using the cavity to detect the nanotube's motion, we observe and simulate interference between mechanical and electrical oscillations. We measure the mechanical ring down and show that further improvements to the system could enable the measurement of mechanical motion at the quantum limit.