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Phonon Laser Action in a Tunable Two-Level System

Ivan S. Grudinin, Hansuek Lee, O. Painter, and Kerry J. Vahala
Phys. Rev. Lett. 104, 083901 – Published 22 February 2010
Physics logo See Viewpoint: Phonon lasers gain a sound foundation

Abstract

The phonon analog of an optical laser has long been a subject of interest. We demonstrate a compound microcavity system, coupled to a radio-frequency mechanical mode, that operates in close analogy to a two-level laser system. An inversion produces gain, causing phonon laser action above a pump power threshold of around 7μW. The device features a continuously tunable gain spectrum to selectively amplify mechanical modes from radio frequency to microwave rates. Viewed as a Brillouin process, the system accesses a regime in which the phonon plays what has traditionally been the role of the Stokes wave. For this reason, it should also be possible to controllably switch between phonon and photon laser regimes. Cooling of the mechanical mode is also possible.

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  • Received 15 July 2009

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.104.083901

©2010 American Physical Society

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Phonon lasers gain a sound foundation

Published 22 February 2010

Two groups have made progress in building laserlike devices that emit phonons rather than photons.

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Authors & Affiliations

Ivan S. Grudinin, Hansuek Lee, O. Painter, and Kerry J. Vahala*

  • Department of Applied Physics, California Institute of Technology, 1200 East California Boulevard, Pasadena, California 91125, USA

  • *vahala@caltech.edu

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Issue

Vol. 104, Iss. 8 — 26 February 2010

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