Laser Optomechanics

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel laser optomechanics scheme where a VCSEL's mirror and the optical field are mutually coupled, enabling large-amplitude self-oscillations and advancing applications in quantum entanglement and precision measurement.

Contribution

It demonstrates a new mutual coupling approach in laser optomechanics using a high-contrast-grating mirror, significantly enhancing oscillation amplitude and potential applications.

Findings

Achieved > 550 nm self-oscillation amplitude in a laser cavity.

Demonstrated mutual coupling enhances light-matter energy transfer.

Potential for quantum entanglement and ultrasensitive measurements.

Abstract

Cavity optomechanics explores the coupling between the optical field and the mechanical oscillation to induce cooling and regenerative oscillation in a mechanical oscillator. So far, optomechanics relies on the detuning between the cavity and an external pump laser, where the laser acts only as a power supply. Here, we report a new scheme with mutual coupling between a mechanical oscillator that supports a mirror of a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) and the optical field, greatly enhancing the light-matter energy transfer. In this work, we used an ultra-light-weight (130 pg) high-contrast-grating (HCG) mirror in a VCSEL, whose reflectivity spectrum is designed to facilitate strong optomechanical coupling, to demonstrate optomechanically-induced regenerative oscillation of the laser optomechanical cavity with > 550 nm self-oscillation amplitude of the micro-mechanical oscillator, two to three orders of magnitude larger than typical. This new scheme not only offers an efficient approach for high-speed wavelength-swept sources, but also has far-reaching significance in the realization of quantum entanglement of macroscopic objects and ultrasensitive measurement of displacements and forces.