Collective dynamics in optomechanical arrays

TL;DR

This paper investigates the collective behavior of optomechanical arrays, demonstrating their potential for synchronization phenomena and modeling these dynamics with a modified Kuramoto model to guide future experimental studies.

Contribution

It introduces a theoretical framework for understanding collective dynamics in optomechanical arrays using a modified Kuramoto model, advancing the field of optomechanics.

Findings

Optomechanical arrays can exhibit synchronization.

A modified Kuramoto model effectively describes their collective behavior.

The model predicts observable features for future experiments.

Abstract

The emerging field of optomechanics seeks to explore the interaction between nanomechanics and light. Recently, the exciting concept of optomechanical crystals has been introduced, where defects in photonic crystal structures are used to generate both localized optical and mechanical modes that interact with each other. Here we start exploring the collective dynamics of arrays consisting of many coupled optomechanical cells. We show that such "optomechanical arrays" can display synchronization and that they can be described by a modified Kuramoto model that allows to explain and predict most of the features that will be observable in future experiments.