Optomechanical Nonlinearity in Dual-Nanoweb Structure Suspended Inside Capillary Fiber

A. Butsch, M. S. Kang, T. G. Euser, J. R. Koehler, S. Rammler, R. Keding, and P. St.J. Russell
Phys. Rev. Lett. 109, 183904 – Published 2 November 2012

Abstract

A novel kind of nanostructured optical fiber, displaying an extremely high and optically broadband optomechanical nonlinearity, is presented. It comprises two closely spaced ultrathin glass membranes (webs) suspended in air and attached to the inner walls of a glass fiber capillary. Light guided in this dual-web structure can exert attractive or repulsive pressure on the webs, causing them to be pushed together or pulled apart. The elastic deflection of the webs is, in turn, coupled to the electromagnetic field distribution and results in a change in the effective refractive index within the fiber. Employing a pump-probe technique in an interferometric setup, optomechanically induced refractive index changes more than 104 times larger than the Kerr effect are detected. Theoretical estimates of the optomechanical nonlinearity agree well with the experimental results. The dual-web fiber combines the sensitivity of a microoptomechanical device with the versatility of an optical fiber and could trigger new developments in the fields of nonlinear optics, optical metrology, and sensing.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 30 May 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.183904

© 2012 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

A. Butsch1,*, M. S. Kang1, T. G. Euser1, J. R. Koehler1, S. Rammler1, R. Keding1, and P. St.J. Russell1,2

  • 1Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, Guenther-Scharowsky-Strasse 1, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
  • 2Department of Physics, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany

  • *Corresponding author. anna.butsch@mpl.mpg.de

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 109, Iss. 18 — 2 November 2012

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review Letters

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×