Optomechanical devices for manipulation and detection of light

Combining mechanics with photonics in optomechanical devices is a powerful tool for controlling the system electromagnetic properties and obtain new functionalities. In this talk I will show two optomechanical devices for modulation and detection of light at various frequencies. Modulation of specific parameters of light, such as polarization, can be achieved by deforming optical metasurfaces trough mechanically compliant action [1]. Fast modulation at GHz range can be reached by introducing optomechanical metasurfaces tailored for simultaneous control of photons and phonons. The symmetry of their corresponding Bloch modes plays an important role both for wave manipulation, potentially showing non-trivial effects such as asymmetric negative refractive of acoustic waves [2], and for wave coupling, ultimately setting the modulator performances. On another side, light can be detected with thermomechanical bolometers; probing mechanical resonances shifting due to device temperature can be used to detect absorbed electromagnetic radiation in a broad frequency range [3]. With the possibility of electrical read-out and large-scale fabrication, thermomechanical bolometers will represent a new technology for far-IR, on field cameras.

[1] S. Zanotto, A. Tredicucci, D. Navarro-Urrios, M. Cecchini, G. Biasiol, D. Mencarelli, L. Pierantoni & A. Pitanti, Optomechanics of Chiral Dielectric Metasurfaces, Adv. Opt. Mat. 8, 1901507 (Feb. 2020).

[2] S. Zanotto, G. Biasiol, P. Santos & A. Pitanti, Metamaterial-enabled asymmetric negative refraction of GHz mechanical waves, Nat. Comm. 13, 5939 (Oct. 2022).

[3] L. Vicarelli, A. Tredicucci & A. Pitanti, Micromechanical Bolometers for Subterahertz Detection at Room Temperature, ACS Phot. 9, 360–367 (Feb. 2022).

The seminar is realized in the framework of the funded projects:

• Alexander von Humboldt fellowship for Experienced Researchers
• ATTRACT 2 H-Cube