Polariton path to fully resonant dispersive coupling in optomechanical resonators

Abstract

Resonant photoelastic coupling opens new perspectives for strongly enhanced light-sound interaction in semiconductor optomechanical resonators. One potential problem, however, is the reduction of the cavity Q factor induced by dissipation when the resonance is approached. We show in this Rapid Communication through Raman-scattering experiments that cavity-polariton mediation in the light-matter process overcomes this limitation allowing for a strongly enhanced photon-phonon coupling without significant lifetime reduction in the strong-coupling regime. Huge optomechanical coupling factors in the petaHz/nm range are envisaged, three orders of magnitude larger than the backaction produced by the mechanical displacement of the cavity mirrors.