Nonlinear quantum optomechanics in a Fano-mirror microcavity system

TL;DR

This paper investigates a Fano-mirror optomechanical system that achieves quantum nonlinear regimes, enabling quantum state engineering like photon blockade and mechanical cat states with realistic parameters.

Contribution

It introduces a novel Fano-mirror architecture that reduces optical linewidth, allowing access to single-photon strong-coupling and sideband-resolved regimes simultaneously.

Findings

Predicted photon blockade under realistic parameters.

Demonstrated generation of mechanical cat states.

Validated system dynamics with multiple theoretical approaches.

Abstract

We study a Fano-mirror optomechanical system in the quantum nonlinear regime. In this system, two strongly lossy optical modes hybridize through both coherent and dissipative couplings to form an effective optical mode with a drastically reduced linewidth. This linewidth reduction enables the system to access the single-photon strong-coupling and sideband-resolved regimes simultaneously. We formulate the system dynamics using an effective master-equation approach and benchmark it against quantum Langevin and dressed-state master-equation descriptions. With experimentally realistic parameters, we predict clear quantum signatures, including photon blockade and the generation of mechanical cat states. Our work establishes the Fano-mirror architecture as a promising platform for harnessing single-photon optomechanical nonlinearities for quantum state engineering under achievable experimental conditions.