Coupling of a nanomechanical oscillator and an atomic three-level medium

A. Sanz-Mora, A. Eisfeld, S. Wüster, and J.-M. Rost
Phys. Rev. A 93, 023816 – Published 10 February 2016

Abstract

We theoretically investigate the coupling of an ultracold three-level atomic gas and a nanomechanical mirror via classical electromagnetic radiation. The radiation pressure on the mirror is modulated by absorption of a probe light field, caused by the atoms which are electromagnetically rendered nearly transparent, allowing the gas to affect the mirror. In turn, the mirror can affect the gas as its vibrations generate optomechanical sidebands in the control field. We show that the sidebands cause modulations of the probe intensity at the mirror frequency, which can be enhanced near atomic resonances. Through the radiation pressure from the probe beam onto the mirror, this results in resonant driving of the mirror. Controllable by the two-photon detuning, the phase relation of the driving to the mirror motion decides upon amplification or damping of mirror vibrations. This permits direct phase locking of laser amplitude modulations to the motion of a nanomechanical element opening a perspective for cavity-free cooling through coupling to an atomic gas.

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  • Received 3 November 2015

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.93.023816

©2016 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Atomic, Molecular & Optical

Authors & Affiliations

A. Sanz-Mora, A. Eisfeld, S. Wüster, and J.-M. Rost

  • Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Nöthnitzer Strasse 38, 01187 Dresden, Germany

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Issue

Vol. 93, Iss. 2 — February 2016

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