Direct laser-written optomechanical membranes in fiber Fabry-Perot cavities

Nat Commun. 2024 Jan 3;15(1):209. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-44490-7.

Abstract

Integrated micro- and nanophotonic optomechanical experiments enable the manipulation of mechanical resonators on the single phonon level. Interfacing these structures requires elaborate techniques limited in tunability, flexibility, and scaling towards multi-mode systems. Here, we demonstrate a cavity optomechanical experiment using 3D-laser-written polymer membranes inside fiber Fabry-Perot cavities. Vacuum coupling rates of g0/2π ≈ 30 kHz to the fundamental megahertz mechanical mode are reached. We observe optomechanical spring tuning of the mechanical resonator frequency by tens of kilohertz exceeding its linewidth at cryogenic temperatures. The direct fiber coupling, its scaling capabilities to coupled resonator systems, and the potential implementation of dissipation dilution structures and integration of electrodes make it a promising platform for fiber-tip integrated accelerometers, optomechanically tunable multi-mode mechanical systems, and directly fiber-coupled systems for microwave to optics conversion.