Carrier-mediated optomechanical forces in semiconductor nanomembranes with coupled quantum wells

TY - JOUR

T1 - Carrier-mediated optomechanical forces in semiconductor nanomembranes with coupled quantum wells

AU - Barg, Andreas

AU - Midolo, Leonardo

AU - Kirsanské, Gabija

AU - Tighineanu, Petru

AU - Pregnolato, Tommaso

AU - İmamoǧlu, Ataç

AU - Lodahl, Peter

AU - Schliesser, Albert

AU - Stobbe, Søren

AU - Polzik, Eugene Simon

PY - 2018/10/22

Y1 - 2018/10/22

N2 - In the majority of optomechanical experiments, the interaction between light and mechanical motion is mediated by radiation pressure, which arises from momentum transfer of reflecting photons. This is an inherently weak interaction, and optically generated carriers in semiconductors have been predicted to be the mediator of different and potentially much stronger forces. Here we demonstrate optomechanical forces induced by electron-hole pairs in coupled quantum wells embedded in a free-free nanomembrane. We identify contributions from the deformation potential and piezoelectric coupling and observe optically driven motion about three orders of magnitude larger than expected from radiation pressure. The amplitude and phase of the driven oscillations are controlled by an applied electric field, which tunes the carrier lifetime to match the mechanical period. Our work opens perspectives not only for enhancing the optomechanical interaction in a range of experiments but also for interfacing mechanical objects with complex macroscopic quantum objects, such as excitonic condensates.

AB - In the majority of optomechanical experiments, the interaction between light and mechanical motion is mediated by radiation pressure, which arises from momentum transfer of reflecting photons. This is an inherently weak interaction, and optically generated carriers in semiconductors have been predicted to be the mediator of different and potentially much stronger forces. Here we demonstrate optomechanical forces induced by electron-hole pairs in coupled quantum wells embedded in a free-free nanomembrane. We identify contributions from the deformation potential and piezoelectric coupling and observe optically driven motion about three orders of magnitude larger than expected from radiation pressure. The amplitude and phase of the driven oscillations are controlled by an applied electric field, which tunes the carrier lifetime to match the mechanical period. Our work opens perspectives not only for enhancing the optomechanical interaction in a range of experiments but also for interfacing mechanical objects with complex macroscopic quantum objects, such as excitonic condensates.

U2 - 10.1103/physrevb.98.155316

DO - 10.1103/physrevb.98.155316

M3 - Journal article

SN - 2469-9950

VL - 98

JO - Physical Review B

JF - Physical Review B

M1 - 155316

ER -