Dual-mode phonon dynamics and lasing in optomechanical cavities

TL;DR

This paper applies nonlinear bifurcation theory to classify and predict complex phonon lasing behaviors in optomechanical cavities, revealing new regimes like dual-mode lasing and time crystals, with implications for optomechanical frequency combs.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive bifurcation analysis to understand dual-mode phonon lasing dynamics in optomechanical systems, uncovering new regimes and hysteretic behaviors.

Findings

Multiple lasing regimes identified, including single- and dual-mode

Synchronization and quasiperiodic time crystal behaviors observed

Bifurcation analysis links dynamical regimes to system parameters

Abstract

We use the full nonlinear bifurcation theory as a powerful methodology to thoroughly classify and predict the phonon lasing dynamics in optomechanical cavities. We exemplify its scope in the very relevant and so far vaguely explored dynamics of dual-mode phonon lasing when two independent mechanical modes are directly coupled to one optical field. We uncover a plethora of different lasing regimes in a fixed and realistic cavity geometry, including single- and dual-mode lasing, perfect synchronization of different mechanical modes, and quasiperiodic time crystals. All dynamical regimes are unambiguously associated with bifurcations of different natures, which may exhibit both super and sub-critical natures characterizing the often hysteretic behavior of the systems when they are externally driven by a time-varying laser source. Our results, generalizable to any other optomechanical system, open unprecedented pathways to understand and control the formation and dynamics of optomechanical frequency combs.