Abstract
We propose a force sensor, with optical detection, based on a reconfigurable multi-cavity photonic molecule distributed over two parallel photonic crystal membranes. The system spectral behaviour is described with an analytical model based on coupled mode theory and validated by finite difference time domain simulations. The deformation of the upper photonic crystal membrane, due to a localized vertical force, is monitored by the relative spectral positions of the photonic molecule resonances. The proposed system can act both as force sensor, with pico-newton sensitivity, able to identify the position where the force is applied, and as torque sensor able to measure the torsion of the membrane along two perpendicular directions.
Highlights
Among optical nano-resonators, photonic molecules, consisting of two or more interacting photonic crystal nano-cavities (PhCCs), represent an attractive platform for probing fundamental cavity quantum electrodynamics effects, for quantum information processing [1,2,3,4], and to realize an ultrabright source of entangled photon pairs [5]
We propose a force sensor, with optical detection, based on a reconfigurable multicavity photonic molecule distributed over two parallel photonic crystal membranes
As the minimum ∆d in this case results of the order of 0.03 nm, we find, with a calculation analogous to the case of minimum detectable force (MDF), that the minimum detectable torque (MDT) occurs for an applied force of the order of 0.3 nN
Summary
Among optical nano-resonators, photonic molecules, consisting of two or more interacting photonic crystal nano-cavities (PhCCs), represent an attractive platform for probing fundamental cavity quantum electrodynamics effects, for quantum information processing [1,2,3,4], and to realize an ultrabright source of entangled photon pairs [5] Due to their ultranarrow resonances localized in diffraction limited dielectric volumes [6], PhCCs are strong candidates for a new generation of devices for sensing and metrology applications [7,8,9]. The effects of a local force exerted by nanoscale mechanical and electro-mechanical actuation on reconfigurable bilayer photonic crystal resonators have been studied [19,20] These actuation methods allow the control of the spectral properties of coupled cavities in an ultrawide spectral range, demonstrating a fine and reversible mode shift. The results are validated by Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) simulations giving full and quantitative information about the coupled modes of the proposed sensor
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