Nonlinear quantum dot optomechanics

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates nonlinear three-wave mixing between surface acoustic waves and optical photons mediated by a quantum dot, enabling coherent control and frequency conversion in quantum optomechanical systems.

Contribution

It introduces a new nonlinear wave mixing process in quantum dot optomechanics, including phase matching and multi-phonon process analysis.

Findings

Demonstrated sum and difference frequency generation between two surface acoustic waves.

Achieved phase-controlled enhancement or suppression of sidebands.

Theoretical model accounts for multi-phonon processes and electronic transitions.

Abstract

Wave mixing is an archetypical phenomenon in bosonic systems. In optomechanics, the bi-directional conversion between electromagnetic waves or photons at optical frequencies and elastic waves or phonons at radio frequencies is building on precisely this fundamental principle. Surface acoustic waves provide a versatile interconnect on a chip and, thus, enable the optomechanical control of remote systems. Here, we report on the coherent nonlinear three-wave mixing between the coherent fields of two radio frequency surface acoustic waves and optical laser photons via the dipole transition of a single quantum dot exciton. In the resolved sideband regime, we demonstrate fundamental acoustic analogues of sum and difference frequency generation between the two SAWs and employ phase matching to deterministically enhance or suppress individual sidebands. This bi-directional transfer between the acoustic and optical domains is described by theory which fully takes into account direct and virtual multi-phonon processes. Finally, we show that the precision of the wave mixing is limited by the frequency accuracy of modern radio frequency electronics.