Applications of cavity optomechanics

Journal Article · Mon Sep 15 04:00:00 EDT 2014 · Applied Physics Reviews

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4896029· OSTI ID:22314265

Metcalfe, Michael ^[1]

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1. Booz Allen Hamilton, 3811 Fairfax Drive, Arlington, Virginia 22203 (United States)

“Cavity-optomechanics” aims to study the quantum properties of mechanical systems. A common strategy implemented in order to achieve this goal couples a high finesse photonic cavity to a high quality factor mechanical resonator. Then, using feedback forces such as radiation pressure, one can cool the mechanical mode of interest into the quantum ground state and create non-classical states of mechanical motion. On the path towards achieving these goals, many near-term applications of this field have emerged. After briefly introducing optomechanical systems and describing the current state-of-the-art experimental results, this article summarizes some of the more exciting practical applications such as ultra-sensitive, high bandwidth accelerometers and force sensors, low phase noise x-band integrated microwave oscillators and optical signal processing such as optical delay-lines, wavelength converters, and tunable optical filters. In this rapidly evolving field, new applications are emerging at a fast pace, but this article concentrates on the aforementioned lab-based applications as these are the most promising avenues for near-term real-world applications. New basic science applications are also becoming apparent such as the generation of squeezed light, testing gravitational theories and for providing a link between disparate quantum systems.

• OSTI ID: 22314265
• Journal Information: Applied Physics Reviews, Journal Name: Applied Physics Reviews Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 1; ISSN APRPG5; ISSN 1931-9401
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ACCELEROMETERS
GROUND STATES
MICROWAVE RADIATION
OPTICAL FILTERS
OSCILLATORS
QUALITY FACTOR
RADIATION PRESSURE
RESONATORS