Opto?mechanical photonic crystal cavities for sensing application

Abstract

A new class of hybrid systems that couple optical and mechanical nanoscale devices is under development. According to their interaction concepts, two groups of opto?mechanical systems are summarized as mechanically tunable and radiation pressure?driven optical resonators. On account of their high?quality factors and small mode volumes as well as good on?chip integrability with waveguides/circuits, photonic crystal (PhC) cavities have attracted great attention in sensing applications. Benefitting from the opto?mechanical interaction, a PhC cavity integrated opto?mechanical system provides an attractive platform for ultrasensitive sensors to detect displacement, mass, force, and acceleration. In this review, we introduce basic physical concepts of opto?mechanical PhC system and describe typical experimental systems for sensing applications. Opto?mechanical interaction?based PhC cavities offer unprecedented opportunities to develop lab-on?a?chip devices and witness a promising prospect to further manipulate light propagation in the nanophotonics. © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.