Synchronization in an optomechanical cavity

Quantum Synchronization via Active-Passive Decomposition Configuration: An Open Quantum-System Study

In this paper, we study the synchronization of dissipative quantum harmonic oscillators in the framework of a quantum open system via the active-passive decomposition (APD) configuration. We show that two or more quantum systems may be synchronized when the quantum systems of interest are embedded in dissipative environments and influenced by a common classical system. Such a classical system is typically termed a controller, which (1) can drive quantum systems to cross different regimes (e.g., from periodic to chaotic motions) and (2) constructs the so-called active-passive decomposition configuration, such that all the quantum objects under consideration may be synchronized. The main finding of this paper is that we demonstrate that the complete synchronizations measured using the standard quantum deviation may be achieved for both stable regimes (quantum limit circles) and unstable regimes (quantum chaotic motions). As an example, we numerically show in an optomechanical setup that complete synchronization can be realized in quantum mechanical resonators.

Entanglement signatures for quantum synchronization with single-ion phonon laser

The entanglement properties of quantum synchronization, based on a single-ion phonon laser subjected to an external drive, have been studied. It is found that the maximum value of steady-state entanglement between the ion's internal and external states occurs near the noiseless boundary from synchronization to unsynchronization, accompanied by noticeable oscillatory behaviors during the corresponding time evolution of entanglement. In addition, the later time dynamics of entanglement also indicates the occurrence of frequency entrainment, as evidenced by the strong consistency between the bending of the observed frequency and the emergence of Liouvillian exceptional points (LEPs) in the first two eigenvalues of the Liouvillian eigenspectrum. Moreover, the emergence of LEPs, which is intimately associated with frequency entrainment, should be widely observed in quantum synchronization and can be explored in LEPs-based applications.

All-Optical Synchronization of Remote Optomechanical Systems

Synchronization and frequency locking between remote mechanical oscillators are of scientific and technological importance. The key challenges are to align the oscillation frequencies and realize strong nonlinear interaction of both oscillators to a common carrier capable of long-distance transmission. Here, we experimentally realize the all-optical synchronization between two different optomechanical systems, a microsphere and a microdisk. The mechanical oscillation of the microsphere induced by the radiation pressure is loaded onto the pump laser via the optomechanical interaction, which is directly transmitted through a 5-km-long single-mode fiber to excite the mechanical oscillation of the microdisk. By finely tuning both the optical and mechanical frequencies of the two microresonators, the oscillation of the microdisk is injection locked to the microsphere, resulting in a synchronized phase relation of the two systems. Our results push a step forward the long-distance synchronization network using optomechanical microresonators.

A lensed fiber Bragg grating-based membrane-in-the-middle optomechanical cavity

Optomechanical systems benefit from the coupling between an optical field and mechanical vibrations. Fiber-based devices are well suited to easily exploit this interaction. We report an alternative approach of a silicon nitride membrane-in-the-middle of a high quality factor ([Formula: see text]-[Formula: see text]) Fabry-Perot, formed by a grating inscribed within a fiber core as an input mirror in front of a dielectric back mirror. The Pound-Drever-Hall technique used to stabilize the laser frequency on the optical resonance frequency allows us to reduce the low frequency noise down to [Formula: see text]. We present a detailed methodology for the characterization of the optical and optomechanical properties of this stabilized system, using various membrane geometries, with corresponding resonance frequencies in the range of several hundred of [Formula: see text]. The excellent long-term stability is illustrated by continuous measurements of the thermomechanical noise spectrum over several days, with the laser source maintained at optical resonance. This major result makes this system an ideal candidate for optomechanical sensing.

Optomechanical synchronization across multi-octave frequency spans

Experimental exploration of synchronization in scalable oscillator microsystems 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 with frequency nearby the oscillator’s tone, and becomes increasingly challenging as their frequency detuning increases. Here, we experimentally demonstrate entrainment of a silicon-nitride optomechanical oscillator driven up to the fourth harmonic of its 32 MHz fundamental frequency. Exploring this effect, we also experimentally demonstrate a purely optomechanical RF frequency divider, where we performed frequency division up to a 4:1 ratio, i.e., from 128 MHz to 32 MHz. Further developments could harness these effects towards frequency synthesizers, phase-sensitive amplification and nonlinear sensing.

Higher order synchronization in optomechanical devices is relatively unexplored. Here the authors use nonlinear parametric effects to entrain an optomechanical oscillator with a drive signal several octaves away from the oscillation frequency, and demonstrate RF frequency division.

Chaotic synchronization of two optical cavity modes in optomechanical systems

The synchronization of the motion of microresonators has attracted considerable attention. In previous studies, the microresonators for synchronization were studied mostly in the linear regime. While the important problem of synchronizing nonlinear microresonators was rarely explored. Here we present theoretical methods to synchronize the motions of chaotic optical cavity modes in an optomechanical system, where one of the optical modes is strongly driven into chaotic motion and transfers chaos to other weakly driven optical modes via a common mechanical resonator. This mechanical mode works as a common force acting on each optical mode, which, thus, enables the synchronization of states. We find that complete synchronization can be achieved in two identical chaotic cavity modes. For two arbitrary nonidentical chaotic cavity modes, phase synchronization can also be achieved in the strong-coupling small-detuning regime.

Self-excited oscillation and synchronization of an on-fiber optomechanical cavity

We study a fully on-fiber optomechanical cavity and characterize its performance as a sensor. The cavity is formed by patterning a suspended metallic mirror near the tip of an optical fiber and by introducing a static reflector inside the fiber. Optically induced self-excited oscillation (SEO) is observed above a threshold value of the injected laser power. The SEO phase can be synchronized by periodically modulating the optical power that is injected into the cavity. Noise properties of the system in the region of synchronization are investigated. Moreover, the spectrum is measured near different values of the modulation frequency, at which phase locking occurs. A universal behavior is revealed in the transition between the regions of phase locked and free running SEO.

Synchronization enhancement of indirectly coupled oscillators via periodic modulation in an optomechanical system

We study the synchronization behaviors of two indirectly coupled mechanical oscillators of different frequencies in a doublecavity optomechanical system. It is found that quantum synchronization is roughly vanishing though classical synchronization seems rather good when each cavity mode is driven by an external field in the absence of temporal modulations. By periodically modulating cavity detunings or driving amplitudes, however, it is possible to observe greatly enhanced quantum synchronization accompanied with nearly perfect classical synchronization. The level of quantum synchronization observed here is, in particular, much higher than that for two directly coupled mechanical oscillators. Note also that the modulation on cavity detunings is more appealing than that on driving amplitudes when the robustness of quantum synchronization is examined against the bath’s mean temperature or the oscillators’ frequency difference.

Properties and relative measure for quantifying quantum synchronization

Although quantum synchronization phenomena and corresponding measures have been widely discussed recently, it is still an open question how to characterize directly the influence of nonlocal correlation, which is the key distinction for identifying classical and quantum synchronizations. In this paper, we present basic postulates for quantifying quantum synchronization based on the related theory in Mari's work [Phys. Rev. Lett. 111, 103605 (2013)PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.111.103605], and we give a general formula of a quantum synchronization measure with clear physical interpretations. By introducing Pearson's parameter, we show that the obvious characteristics of our measure are the relativity and monotonicity. As an example, the measure is applied to describe synchronization among quantum optomechanical systems under a Markovian bath. We also show the potential by quantifying generalized synchronization and discrete variable synchronization with this measure.

Genuine Quantum Signatures in Synchronization of Anharmonic Self-Oscillators

We study the synchronization of a Van der Pol self-oscillator with Kerr anharmonicity to an external drive. We demonstrate that the anharmonic, discrete energy spectrum of the quantum oscillator leads to multiple resonances in both phase locking and frequency entrainment not present in the corresponding classical system. Strong driving close to these resonances leads to nonclassical steady-state Wigner distributions. Experimental realizations of these genuine quantum signatures can be implemented with current technology.

Long-distance synchronization of unidirectionally cascaded optomechanical systems

Synchronization is of great scientific interest due to the abundant applications in a wide range of systems. We propose an all-optical scheme to achieve the controllable long-distance synchronization of two dissimilar optomechanical systems, which are unidirectionally coupled through a fiber with light. Synchronization, unsynchronization, and the dependence of the synchronization on driving laser strength and intrinsic frequency mismatch are studied based on the numerical simulation. Taking the fiber attenuation into account, we show that two optomechanical resonators can be unidirectionally synchronized over a distance of tens of kilometers. We also analyze the unidirectional synchronization of three optomechanical systems, demonstrating the scalability of our scheme.

Devil's staircase in an optomechanical cavity

We study self-excited oscillations (SEOs) in an on-fiber optomechanical cavity. While the phase of SEOs randomly diffuses in time when the laser power injected into the cavity is kept constant, phase locking may occur when the laser power is periodically modulated in time. We investigate the dependence of phase locking on the amplitude and frequency of the laser-power modulation. We find that phase locking can be induced with a relatively low modulation amplitude provided that the ratio between the modulation frequency and the frequency of SEOs is tuned close to a rational number of relatively low hierarchy in the Farey tree. To account for the experimental results, a one-dimensional map, which allows evaluating the time evolution of the phase of SEOs, is theoretically derived. By calculating the winding number of the one-dimensional map, the regions of phase locking can be mapped in the plane of modulation amplitude and modulation frequency. Comparison between the theoretical predictions and the experimental findings yields a partial agreement.