Trapping of a microsphere pendulum resonator in an optical potential

Journal Article · Fri May 15 00:00:00 EDT 2009 · Physical Review. A

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVA.79.053839· OSTI ID:21313115

Ward, J M ^[1]; Wu, Y; Nic Chormaic, S ^[2]; Minogin, V G ^[1]

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1. Department of Applied Physics and Instrumentation, Cork Institute of Technology, Cork (Ireland)
2. Photonics Centre, Tyndall National Institute, Prospect Row, Cork (Ireland)

We propose a method to spatially confine or corral the movements of a micropendulum via the optical forces produced by two simultaneously excited optical modes of a photonic molecule comprising two microspherical cavities. We discuss how the cavity-enhanced optical force generated in the photonic molecule can create an optomechanical potential of about 10 eV deep and 30 pm wide, which can be used to trap the pendulum at any given equilibrium position by a simple choice of laser frequencies. This result presents opportunities for very precise all-optical self-alignment of microsystems.

• OSTI ID: 21313115
• Journal Information: Physical Review. A, Vol. 79, Issue 5; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevA.79.053839; (c) 2009 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1050-2947
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ALIGNMENT
EQUILIBRIUM
EV RANGE 01-10
LASER CAVITIES
LASERS
MOLECULES
OPTICAL MODES
POTENTIALS
RADIATION PRESSURE
RESONATORS
TRAPPING