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Brillouin Optomechanics in Coupled Silicon Microcavities
Y A V Espinel1, F G S Santos1, G O Luiz1
1Gleb Wataghin Physics Institute, University of Campinas, 13083-859 Campinas, SP, Brazil.
Scientific Reports
|March 7, 2017
Summary
Engineered silicon microcavities enable low-threshold excitation of high-frequency mechanical modes via backward stimulated Brillouin scattering, advancing optomechanics research.
Area of Science:
- Optomechanics
- Photonics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Optomechanical interactions control optical and mechanical waves, crucial for frequency standards and quantum experiments.
- Brillouin scattering in integrated nano-waveguides and microcavities links optical and GHz mechanical modes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To engineer coupled optical microcavities for low-threshold excitation of mechanical travelling-wave modes.
- To explore backward stimulated Brillouin scattering for enhanced optomechanical coupling.
- To propose silicon microcavity designs for high-frequency mechanical modes.
Main Methods:
- Design of laterally coupled single and double-layer silicon optical microcavities.
- Utilizing backward stimulated Brillouin scattering for light-mechanical wave interaction.
- Characterizing optomechanical coupling rates and mechanical mode frequencies.
Main Results:
- Achieved low threshold excitation of mechanical travelling-wave modes.
- Demonstrated optomechanical coupling with very high frequency modes (11 to 25 GHz).
- Obtained large optomechanical coupling rates (g0/2π) ranging from 50 kHz to 90 kHz.
Conclusions:
- The proposed silicon microcavity designs effectively enable strong optomechanical coupling.
- Backward stimulated Brillouin scattering is a viable mechanism for exciting high-frequency mechanical modes.
- This work advances integrated optomechanical systems for fundamental and technological applications.
