Optically Pumped Coherent Mechanical Oscillators: The Laser Rate Equation Theory and Experimental Verification
Abstract
We develop a theory describing the operation of an opto-mechanical oscillator as a phonon laser using a set of coupled equations that is analogous to the standard set of laser rate equations. We show that laser-like parameters that characterize gain, stored energy, threshold, efficiency, oscillation frequency linewidth, and saturation power can be introduced for an opto-mechanical oscillator driven by photo-thermal or radiation pressure forces. We then apply the theoretical model to the experimental results for photo-thermally driven oscillations in a Si waveguide opto-mechanical resonator and show good agreement between the theory and experiments. We also consider the microscopic mechanism that transforms the energy of incoherent thermal phonons into coherent oscillations of a single phonon mode and show remarkable parallels with the three-wave parametric interactions in optics and also with optoelectronic oscillators used in microwave photonics.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 23, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA609292
Entities
People
- J. B. Khurgin
- M. W. Pruessner
- T. H. Stievater
- Williams S. Rabinovich
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory