Aerostatically tunable optomechanical oscillators

Opt Express. 2014 Jan 27;22(2):1267-76. doi: 10.1364/OE.22.001267.

Abstract

Recently, the first microfluidic optomechanical device was demonstrated, capable of operating with non-solid states of matter (viscous fluids, bioanalytes). These devices exhibit optomechanical oscillation in both the 10-20 MHz and 10-12 GHz regimes, driven by radiation pressure (RP) and stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) respectively. In this work, we experimentally investigate aerostatic tuning of these hollow-shell oscillators, enabled by geometry, stress, and temperature effects. We also demonstrate for the first time the simultaneous actuation of RP-induced breathing mechanical modes and SBS-induced whispering gallery acoustic modes, through a single pump laser. Our result is a step towards completely self-referenced optomechanical sensor technologies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Micro-Electrical-Mechanical Systems / instrumentation*
  • Optical Devices*
  • Oscillometry / instrumentation*
  • Pressure
  • Refractometry / instrumentation*