Coupling a small torsional oscillator to large optical angular momentum

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel torsional optomechanical system coupling tiny dielectric oscillators with high orbital angular momentum light modes, enabling strong interactions and potential quantum effects observation.

Contribution

It presents a new configuration for torsional optomechanics using windmill-shaped dielectrics and Laguerre-Gaussian modes, allowing coupling of small oscillators to unlimited orbital angular momentum.

Findings

Enables coupling of sub-beam waist oscillators to high angular momentum modes

Potential for observing quantum effects in torsional optomechanics

Achieves large optomechanical interactions with low clamping losses

Abstract

We propose a new configuration for realizing torsional optomechanics: an optically trapped windmill-shaped dielectric interacting with Laguerre-Gaussian cavity modes containing both angular and radial nodes. In contrast to existing schemes, our method can couple mechanical oscillators smaller than the optical beam waist to the in-principle unlimited orbital angular momentum that can be carried by a single photon, and thus generate substantial optomechanical interactions. Combining the advantages of small mass, large coupling, and low clamping losses, our work conceptually opens the way for the observation of quantum effects in torsional optomechanics.