Enhanced photothermal cooling of nanowires

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that bolometric photothermal forces can effectively cool nanowire vibrations, surpassing radiation pressure, especially when enhanced by surface plasmon excitation, approaching quantum limits.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach to enhance photothermal forces via surface plasmon excitation for nanowire cooling.

Findings

Photothermal forces can dominate radiation pressure in nanowire optomechanics.

Surface plasmon excitation significantly enhances photothermal force strength.

Nanowire vibrational modes can be cooled close to quantum limits.

Abstract

We investigate the optomechanical interaction between light and metallic nanowires through the action of bolometric forces. We show that the response time of the photothermal forces induced on the nanowire is fast and the strength of the interaction can overcome the radiation pressure force. Furthermore, we suggest the photothermal forces can be enhanced by surface plasmon excitation to cool the sub-megahertz vibrational modes of the nanowires close to its quantum limit.