The peculiarity of THz radiation, in between microwaves and near-infrared light, allows to use concepts and techniques which belong to both photonics and electronics. Some resonant structures in the THz range can either be described by using the picture of optical cavity as well as consider them as LC circuits. This essentially means that the electromagnetic modes have a full spatial separation of electric and magnetic fields and let one to tune “inductance” and “capacitance” components by acting on a particular part of the cavity geometry.
Interestingly, a bone-like resonator behaving like a LC circuit has been reported few years ago [1]. Due to its peculiar shape it is feasible to imagine that the resonator “inductance” can be made with a suspended, mechanically compliant bridge. By oscillating, the bridge itself will change the resonator inductive element and, with that, the resonant frequency itself, realizing optomechanical coupling.
In SouLMan we are devising devices inspired by this idea. We have been able to get a strong lasing action in a LC-like cavity with a suspended membrane bridge and we are currently testing the devices for the quantification of the optomechanical coupling. Stay tuned and check the gallery to see our latest devices !
[1] C. Walther, G. Scalari, M. I. Amanti, M. Beck, J. Faist, Science 327, 1495 (2010)