Optomechanical Synchronization across Multi-Octaves Frequency Spans

Abstract

Experimental exploration of synchronization in scalable oscillator micro systems has unfolded a deeper understanding of networks, collective phenomena, and signal processing. Cavity optomechanical devices have played an important role in this scenario, with the perspective of bridging optical and radio frequencies through nonlinear classical and quantum synchronization concepts. In its simplest form, synchronization occurs when an oscillator is entrained by a signal nearby the oscillator's tone, and becomes increasingly challenging as the frequency detuning increases. Here, we experimentally demonstrate entrainment of a silicon-nitride optomechanical oscillator driven several octaves away from its 32 MHz fundamental frequency. Exploring this effect, we perform a 4:1 frequency division from 128 MHz to 32 MHz. Further developments could harness these effects towards frequency synthesizers, phase-sensitive amplification and nonlinear sensing.

Slip-oscillate response in a synchronizing nonlinear micro-resonator

“…Synchronization widely exists in nature, systems as diverse as quantum [1,2,3,4], Micro/Nanoelectromechanical Systems(M/NEMS) [5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12], candle flames [13,14,15], human body [16,17,18], the biological interaction [19,20,21] and the movement of clusters [22,23,24]. The intrinsic mechanism including frequency locking [25,26,27], phase slip [28,29] and amplitude-frequency relationship [30], which helps to explain a series of natural phenomena, and then serves the development of technology and applications like time keeping clock and pacemaker [31,32,33,34].…”

Bistability in coupled opto-thermal micro-oscillators

“…Nonlinear effects in the sub-micron scale can be beneficial and have been utilized to create novel MEMS devices such as gyroscopes, energy harvesters, filters, and stable time-keeping oscillators [2]- [6]. An active line of research exploits nonlinearities in MEMS devices to study dynamical phenomena [7]- [9]. The short time scales, scope for innovative device design using established microfabrication techniques, and fine control of the system parameters are advantageous for an experimental study of nonlinear dynamics.…”

“…Uniform rings of eight LCOs have been used to examine different dynamical states such as weak chimeras, decoupled states, traveling waves, and inhomogeneous synchronized states in the presence of simple linear coupling, beyond the weak coupling limit [8]. Higher-order frequency locking of an LCO by an external sinusoidal force has also been recently demonstrated [9]. Notably, chaotic and irregular oscillations have been observed in opto-mechanical oscillators driven by radiation pressure due to nonlinearities exhibited by optical cavities at high laser powers [22]- [24].…”