Abstract
We analyze two nonlinear optofluidic processes where nonlinearity is induced by the interplay between optical field and liquid interface. Specifically, guided optical waves generate radiation pressure on the liquid interface, which can in turn distort the liquid interface and modify the properties of the optical field. In the first example, we discuss the feasibility of nonlinear optofluidic solitons, where optical field is governed by the nonlinear Schrödinger equation and nonlinearity is effectively determined by liquid properties. Then, we analyze a nonlinear optofluidic process associated with a high quality (Q) factor whispering gallery mode (WGM) in a liquid droplet. Similar to Kerr effects, the WGM can produce a frequency shift proportional to the WGM power. Using liquid properties that are experimentally attainable, we find that it may only take a few photons to generate measurable WGM resonance shift. Such a possibility may eventually lead to nonlinear optics at single photon energy level.
Highlights
Optofluidics [1,2,3,4,5,6] and optomechanics [7,8,9] have recently emerged as two important areas of research
As will be made clear in this paper, a defining feature of these nonlinear optofluidic processes is that the nonlinearity arises from the distortion of liquid interfaced induced by optical radiation pressure
The most important feature of nonlinear optofluidics is the coupling between the optical field and the liquids, where the coupling strength is effectively determined by the radiation pressure and the interfacial tension of the liquid interface
Summary
Optofluidics [1,2,3,4,5,6] and optomechanics [7,8,9] have recently emerged as two important areas of research. The most important feature of nonlinear optofluidics is the coupling between the optical field and the liquids, where the coupling strength is effectively determined by the radiation pressure and the interfacial tension of the liquid interface. For liquids with low but experimentally achievable surface tension, it may even be possible to produce measurable change in WGM resonance frequency at single photon energy level. Such a possibility may enable us to demonstrate nonlinear interaction between two single photons, which is obviously important for quantum information technology
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