CAREER: Cavity-less optomechanics with macroscopic resonances

非技术描述：由于光吸收驱动的机械加热和相关的量子噪声，腔光力学面临着利用低温光来询问悬浮结构的量子力学振子的巨大挑战。另一方面，基于谐振器阵列的光动态调制的实现面临着非均匀谐振器和调制器的缩放问题，这可能导致拓扑光子态和非常规光导。二维板对衬底光机械晶体连续介质中的力学束缚态（BICs）独特地解决了这两个不同研究领域的挑战。由于这些机械bic在与衬底接触时禁止辐射，可以在不引入过多量子噪声的情况下实现无与伦比的参数光-力学耦合。大规模共振效应还将增强行波声光调制，为连续介质中光子的有效规范场提供一种新的范例，从而在芯片和拓扑光子态上实现可重构的光导。这些演示的成就将使可编程集成光子电路的重大飞跃，实现量子光力学协议，并推动量子和经典领域之间的界限。技术描述：该项目的目标是展示一种新的片上光力学架构，用于宏观量子光力学和Floquet光引导，利用机械bic。涉及量子相干性和光物质相互作用的宏观尺度的基础物理学正在探索，而理论概念被转化为集成设备和系统的实验演示。在大面积捕获共振声子的同时，使光吸收驱动的热声子耗散，这种无腔光机械结构可能提供声子和光子之间前所未有的协同性，超越了悬浮结构中流行的光机械腔结构的限制。项目的主要重点是探索宏观量子光力学现象和时间调制光导。在第一个重点中，将利用辐射压力对机械bic进行冷却，以研究微观尺度以外的量子声子相干性；在第二个重点中，将利用有限布洛赫动量的机械bic进行光子带结构的强声光调制，从而实现Floquet光引导。这些效果的实验验证将通过物理建模和设备工程的结合来实现。将研究量子光力学和Floquet光子学的新体制，旨在从根本上超越当前基于微谐振器操纵单声子态和光动态调制的局限性。这个项目的成果，包括一个新的光力学平台，可能会产生巨大的影响，包括可编程光计算，理解量子到经典的转变，以及为更大的量子网络增强量子协议。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Nontechnical Description: Cavity-optomechanics faces tremendous challenges of interrogating quantum mechanical oscillators of suspended structures using light at low temperature, caused by optical-absorption-driven mechanical heating and the associated quantum noise. On the other hand, implementation of dynamic modulation of light based on resonator arrays, which could lead to topological photonic states and unconventional light guiding, is facing the scaling issue of inhomogeneous resonators and modulators. Mechanical bound states in the continuum (BICs) in two-dimensional slab-on-substrate optomechanical crystals uniquely solve these challenges in the two distinct research areas. Thanks to the prohibited radiation of these mechanical BICs while being in contact with the substrate, unparalleled parametric optomechanical coupling might be achieved without introducing excess quantum noises. The large-scale resonance effect will also enhance traveling-wave acousto-optic modulations for a new paradigm of effective gauge field for photons in the continuum without using discrete resonators, leading to reconfigurable light guiding on chips and topological photonic states. The achievement of these demonstrations will enable a significant leap in programmable integrated photonic circuits, implementing quantum optomechanical protocols, and pushing the boundary between quantum and classical realms.Technical Description: The goal of this program is to demonstrate a new on-chip optomechanical architecture for macroscopic quantum optomechanics and Floquet light guiding by taking advantage of mechanical BICs. Fundamental physics involving quantum coherence and light-matter interactions at macroscopic scales are being explored, while theoretical concepts are translated to experimental demonstrations in integrated devices and systems. Trapping resonance phonons in large areas while enabling dissipation of optical-absorption-driven thermal phonons, this cavity-less optomechanical architecture might provide unprecedented cooperativity between phonons and photons, transcending the limitation of the prevailing architecture of optomechanical cavities in suspended structures. The primary focus of the project is on exploring macroscopic quantum optomechanical phenomena and time-modulated light guiding. In the first focus, radiation-pressure force will be used to cool the mechanical BICs for studying quantum phononic coherence beyond the microscopic scale, and in the second, mechanical BICs with finite Bloch momentum will be used for strong acousto-optic modulations of photonic band structure leading to Floquet light guiding. Experimental validations of these effects will be attained through the combination of physical modeling and device engineering. New regime of quantum optomechanics and Floquet photonics will be studied, aiming for fundamentally transcending the current limitations in manipulating single phonon states and dynamic modulation of light based on micro-resonators. The outcome of this program, including a new platform for optomechanics, could have a tremendous impact beyond this program including programmable optical computing, understanding quantum-to-classical transition, and enhancing quantum protocols for larger quantum networks.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.