Optomechanical lasers for inertial sensing

TL;DR

This paper introduces an inertially sensitive optomechanical laser that directly transcribes external accelerations into lasing frequency changes, demonstrating a novel approach for inertial sensing with a fused silica resonator and VECSEL.

Contribution

It presents the first implementation of an optomechanical laser sensor for inertial measurement, combining a VECSEL with a fused silica resonator to detect accelerations via lasing frequency shifts.

Findings

Test mass oscillations detected at 4.18 Hz via lasing frequency.

Interferometer confirms test mass resonance at 4.194 Hz.

Feasibility demonstrated for optomechanical laser-based inertial sensing.

Abstract

We have developed an inertially sensitive optomechanical laser by combining a Vertical-External-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser with a monolithic fused silica resonator. By placing the external cavity mirror of the VECSEL onto the optomechanical resonator test mass, we create a sensor where external accelerations are directly transcribed onto the lasing frequency. We developed a proof-of-principle laboratory prototype and observe test mass oscillations at the resonance frequency of the sensor through the VECSEL lasing frequency, 4.18 +/- .03 Hz. In addition, we set up an ancillary heterodyne interferometer to track the motion of the mechanical oscillator's test mass, observing a resonance of 4.194 +/- 0.004 Hz. The interferometer measurements validate the VECSEL results, confirming the feasibility of using optomechanical lasers for inertial sensing.