Utilizing the nonlinear dynamical response of an optically damped mechanical oscillator*

We consider a standard cavity optomechanics setup where a mechanical oscillator is coherently driven at its resonance frequency. The cavity mode is driven below its resonance, providing optical damping of the mechanical oscillations. We study the nonlinear coherent response of the mechanical oscillator in this setup. For large mechanical amplitudes, we find that the system can display dynamical multistability if the optomechanical cooperativity exceeds a critical value. We investigate the effect of thermal and quantum noise and estimate the noise-induced switching rate between the stable states of the system. Finally, we discuss how this system can be used as bifurcation amplifiers for the detection of small mechanical or optical signals.
[1] K. Borkje, arXiv:1809.04592.