|
|
Optomechanics
- Participants:
Maria Martin, Marc Herzog, and C. Henkel
Summary:
We understand 'optomechanics' as the interaction of light with
macroscopic, mobile objects like mirrors or cavities.
Recently, many experiments have shown that putting a mirror
into an optical cavity can lead to cooling of the mirror motion.
Our research also aims at understanding the fundamental limits
of this cooling scheme.
-
One project is considering a partially transmitting mirror
in a ring cavity. The mirror could be a micromechanical
oscillator, and it couples to degenerate modes (circulating
left and right in the ring cavity). We are studying the force
(radiation pressure) on the mirror and its fluctuations.
(M. Herzog: "Forces on mobile optical elements in a ring cavity")
[ link to diploma thesis ]
-
Another project deals with self-sustained oscillations of
an optical cavity (a small torus) that are driven by an external
laser. We discuss the optical reversal of damping and show that
the phase of the stable oscillation can be synchronized (`locked')
to the phase
of an intensity-modulated laser. Mechanical and laser fluctuations
at the shot noise level do not significantly change the synchronization
properties.
(M. Martin: "Synchronization of a coupled optical and mechanical
system")
[ link to diploma talk ]
[ link to diploma thesis in German ]
-
In a previous paper, we have discussed different thermalization
schemes for a small scatterer in a cavity. The schemes can be
distinguished via the light coming out of the cavity.
(Link to the paper.)
Cooperations:
- Peter Domokos
Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
C. Henkel,
29 Apr 2008
|
|
|