Light-mediated cascaded locking of multiple nano-optomechanical oscillators

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates light-mediated frequency locking of three distant nano-optomechanical oscillators on a chip, showing how guided light can synchronize oscillators despite initial frequency disorder, with implications for scalable optomechanical systems.

Contribution

It introduces a cascaded configuration of nano-optomechanical oscillators that are synchronized via light, advancing scalable optomechanical networks.

Findings

Oscillators synchronized despite initial frequency differences

Clear transition observed in optical output during locking

Langevin equations accurately describe the experimental results

Abstract

Collective phenomena emerging from non-linear interactions between multiple oscillators, such as synchronization and frequency locking, find applications in a wide variety of fields. Optomechanical resonators, which are intrinsically non-linear, combine the scientific assets of mechanical devices with the possibility of long distance controlled interactions enabled by travelling light. Here we demonstrate light-mediated frequency locking of three distant nano-optomechanical oscillators positioned in a cascaded configuration. The oscillators, integrated on a chip along a coupling waveguide, are optically driven with a single laser and oscillate at gigahertz frequency. Despite an initial frequency disorder of hundreds of kilohertz, the guided light locks them all with a clear transition in the optical output. The experimental results are described by Langevin equations, paving the way to scalable cascaded optomechanical configurations.