Optomechanical damping as the origin of sideband asymmetry

TL;DR

This paper argues that sideband asymmetry in cavity optomechanics is primarily caused by optomechanical damping from probe and cooling lasers, challenging previous explanations based on quantum particle processes.

Contribution

It provides a new interpretation attributing sideband asymmetry to optomechanical damping rather than quantum particle creation or backaction effects.

Findings

Sideband asymmetry is due to optomechanical damping from lasers.

Previous explanations based on particle creation are challenged.

The damping effect explains the asymmetry without quantum particle assumptions.

Abstract

Sideband asymmetry in cavity optomechanics has been explained by particle creation and annihilation processes, which bestow an amplitude proportional to 'n+1' and 'n' excitations to each of the respective sidebands. We discuss the issues with this as well as other interpretations, such as quantum backaction and noise interference, and show that the asymmetry is due to the optomechanical damping caused by the probe and the cooling lasers instead.