arXiv subjects

Alessandro Pitanti

Publications and source records attributed to Alessandro Pitanti.

23 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2015

Quantum Electromechanics on Silicon Nitride Nanomembranes

We present a platform based upon silicon nitride nanomembranes for integrating superconducting microwave circuits with planar acoustic and optical devices such as phononic and photonic crystals. Utilizing tensile stress and lithographic patterning of a silicon nitride nanomembrane we are able to reliably realize planar capacitors with vacuum gap sizes down to $s \approx 80$nm. In combination with spiral inductor coils of micron pitch, this yields microwave ($\approx 8$GHz) resonant circuits of high impedance ($Z_{0} \approx 3.4$k$Ω$) suitable for efficient electromechanical coupling to nanoscale acoustic structures. We measure an electromechanical vacuum coupling rate of $g_{0}/2π= 41.5$~Hz to the low frequency ($4.48$MHz) global beam motion of a patterned phononic crystal nanobeam, and through parametric microwave driving reach a backaction cooled mechanical mode occupancy as low as $n_{m} = 0.58$.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2014

A self-stabilized coherent phonon source driven by optical forces

Optical forces can set tiny objects into states of coherent mechanical oscillation, also known as mechanical or phonon lasing. We present a novel pumping mechanism in an opto-mechanical photonic crystal that realizes mechanical lasing with relaxed requirements for the optical-mechanical modes and their inter-coupling. It derives from a spontaneously triggered thermal/free carrier self-pulsing and the anharmonic modulation of the radiation pressure force that comes as a consequence. Moreover, the feedback of the mechanics on the self-pulsing frequency-entrains both oscillators, creating a self-stabilized indecomposable system. A manifold of frequency-entrained regions with two different mechanical modes (at 54 and 122 MHz) are observed as a result of the wide tuneability of the natural frequency of the self-pulsing. The system operates at ambient conditions of pressure and temperature in a silicon compatible platform, which enables its exploitation in sensing, intra-chip metrology or time-keeping applications.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2014

Linear and nonlinear capacitive coupling of electro-opto-mechanical photonic crystal cavities

We fabricate and characterize a microscale silicon electro-opto-mechanical system whose mechanical motion is coupled capacitively to an electrical circuit and optically via radiation pressure to a photonic crystal cavity. To achieve large electromechanical interaction strength, we implement an inverse shadow mask fabrication scheme which obtains capacitor gaps as small as 30 nm while maintaining a silicon surface quality necessary for minimizing optical loss. Using the sensitive optical read-out of the photonic crystal cavity, we characterize the linear and nonlinear capacitive coupling to the fundamental 63 MHz in-plane flexural motion of the structure, showing that the large electromechanical coupling in such devices may be suitable for realizing efficient microwave-to-optical signal conversion.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2009

Whispering-gallery mode micro-kylix resonators

Owing to their ability to confine electromagnetic energy in ultrasmall dielectric volumes, micro-disk, ring and toroid resonators hold interest for both specific applications and fundamental investigations. Generally, contributions from various loss channels within these devices lead to limited spectral windows (Q-bands) where highest mode Q-factors manifest. Here we describe a strategy for tuning Q-bands using a new class of micro-resonators, named micro-kylix resonators, in which engineered stress within an initially flat disk results in either concave or convex devices. To shift the Q-band by 60nm towards short wavelengths in flat micro-disks a 50% diameter reduction is required, which causes severe radiative losses suppressing Q's. With a micro-kylix, we achieve similar tuning and even higher Q's by two orders of magnitude smaller diameter modification (0.4%). The phenomenon relies on geometry-induced smart interplay between modified dispersions of material absorption and radiative loss-related Q-factors. Micro-kylix devices can provide new functionalities and novel technological solutions for photonics and micro-resonator physics.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2008

Whispering-gallery modes and light emission from a Si-nanocrystal-based single microdisk resonator

We report on visible light emission from Si-nanocrystal based optically active microdisk resonators. The room temperature photoluminescence (PL) from single microdisks shows the characteristic modal structure of whispering-gallery modes. The emission is both TE and TM-polarized in 300 nm thick microdisks, while thinner ones (135 nm) support only TE-like modes. Thinner disks have the advantage to filter out higher order radial mode families, allowing for measuring only the most intense first order modal structure. We reveal subnanometer linewidths and corresponding quality factors as high as 2800, limited by the spectral resolution of the experimental setup. Moreover,we observe a modification of mode linewidth by a factor 13 as a function of pump power. The origin of this effect is attributed to an excited carrier absorption loss mechanism.

physics.optics↗