Optomechanical oscillator network, control and synchronization methods, and applications

• US 9,389,413 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2012
• Issued: 07/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cornell University
• Original Assignee: Cornell University
• Inventors: Wiederhecker, Gustavo, Lipson, Michal, McEuen, Paul, Barnard, Arthur, Manipatruni, Sasikanth, Zhang, Mian
• Primary Examiner(s): Ben, Loha
• Application Number:
  US14/130,967
• Publication Number:
  US 20140313559A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,467 Days
• Field of Search: 359237-239, 359/245, 385/14, 385/16, 385/18, 385/26, 385/27, 385/30, 385/32, 385/129, 372/18, 372/20, 372/21, 372/26, 372/27, 372/28, 372/32, 372/69, 331/116.R, 331/154, 331/156, 333/186, 333/187, 333/197, 735/041.6, 735/142.6
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 3/0018 Structures acting upon the moving or flexible element for transforming energy into mechanical movement or vice versa, i.e. actuators, sensors, generators
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 10/00 Nanotechnology for information processing, storage or transmission, e.g. quantum computing or single electron logic
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/001 based on interference in an adjustable optical cavity interference filters G02B5/28; devices or arrangements using multiple reflections in spectrometry or monochromators G01J3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/002 the movement or the deformation controlling the frequency of light, e.g. by Doppler effect
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/26 Optical coupling means G02B6/36, G02B6/42 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/29338 Loop resonators
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/011 in optical waveguides, not otherwise provided for in this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2203/15 involving resonance effects, e.g. resonantly enhanced interaction
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/105 by controlling the mutual position or the reflecting properties of the reflectors of the cavity , e.g. by controlling the cavity lengthH01S3/10076, H01S3/13 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 3/0072 of microelectro-mechanical resonators or networks micromembranes or microbeams B81B2203/01; manufacture of microstructural devices in general B81C
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 9/2447 Beam resonators H03H9/2468 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03L 7/00 Automatic control of frequency or phase; Synchronisation

Abstract

A synchronizable optomechanical oscillator (OMO) network including at least two dissimilar silicon nitride (Si₃N₄) optomechanical resonators that can be excited to evolve into self-sustaining optomechanical oscillators (OMOs) coupled only through an optical radiation field. The tunability of the optical coupling between the oscillators enables one to externally control the dynamics and switch between coupled and individual oscillation states.

Claims

1. A synchronizable optomechanical oscillator (OMO) network, comprising:

a plurality of dissimilar OMOs each characterized by a different mechanical resonant frequency and operable in a regenerative oscillation mode, which are coupled only via an optical radiation field; and

an OMO tuner adapted to tune a single one of the plurality of OMOs in a regenerative oscillation mode to an optical resonant frequency of the single OMO, whereby the plurality of coupled, dissimilar OMOs can be controllably synchronized.

2. The OMO network of claim 1, wherein an optical, bi-directional coupling medium is a free-space region immediately adjacent at least two adjacent OMOs that supports evanescent coupling between the at least two adjacent OMOs.

3. The OMO network of claim 2, wherein the at least two adjacent OMOs are separated by a distance d=400+ or −

20 nm.

4. The OMO network of claim 1, wherein an optical, bi-directional coupling medium is an optical waveguide disposed adjacent at least two OMOs in a manner that supports evanescent coupling between the optical waveguide and the at least two OMOs.

5. The OMO network of claim 1, wherein the OMO tuner is a laser.

6. The OMO network of claim 5, wherein the laser has a spectral output wavelength of 1550 nm.

7. The OMO network of claim 5, wherein the plurality of dissimilar OMOs each includes a heating element.

8. The OMO network of claim 5, wherein the heating element comprises chrome.

9. The OMO network of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of dissimilar OMOs are two, stacked Si3N4 disks.

10. The OMO network of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of dissimilar OMOs are two, stacked SiNx rings.

11. A method for controllably synchronizing an optomechanical oscillator (OMO) network comprising a plurality of dissimilar OMOs, comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of dissimilar OMOs each characterized by a different mechanical resonant frequency and operable in a regenerative oscillation mode;

establishing a bi-directional, optical communication link between the plurality of OMOs;

optically exciting the plurality of OMOs to respective regenerative oscillation modes; and

tuning a single one of the plurality of OMOs to allow an optical field propagation in at least two of the OMOs.

12. A method for externally controlling the state of an optomechanical oscillator (OMO) in an OMO network, comprising:

providing at least two dissimilar OMOs;

coupling the at least two dissimilar OMOs, wherein the coupling consists of an optical radiation field; and

tuning the coupling between the at least two dissimilar OMOs to externally control the selection between coupled and individual oscillation states.