We review the field of cavity optomechanics, which explores the interaction between electromagnetic radiation and nano- or micromechanical motion This review covers the basics of optical cavities and mechanical resonators, their mutual optomechanical interaction mediated by the radiation pressure force, the large variety of experimental systems which exhibit this interaction, optical measurements of mechanical motion, dynamical backaction amplification and cooling, nonlinear dynamics, multimode optomechanics, and proposals for future cavity quantum optomechanics experiments In addition, we describe the perspectives for fundamental quantum physics and for possible applications of optomechanical devices

Cavity Optomechanics

Photonic crystal fibers guide light by corralling it within a periodic array of microscopic air holes that run along the entire fiber length Largely through their ability to overcome the limitations of conventional fiber optics—for example, by permitting low-loss guidance of light in a hollow core—these fibers are proving to have a multitude of important technological and scientific applications spanning many disciplines The result has been a renaissance of interest in optical fibers and their uses

https://science.sciencemag.org/content/sci/299/5605/358.full.pdf

Photonic crystal fibers

A fast-Fourier-transform method of topography and interferometry is proposed. By computer processing of a noncontour type of fringe pattern, automatic discrimination is achieved between elevation and depression of the object or wave-front form, which has not been possible by the fringe-contour-generation techniques. The method has advantages over moire topography and conventional fringe-contour interferometry in both accuracy and sensitivity. Unlike fringe-scanning techniques, the method is easy to apply because it uses no moving components.

Fourier-transform method of fringe-pattern analysis for computer-based topography and interferometry

We review the recent developments in the area of optical fiber grating sensors, including quasi-distributed strain sensing using Bragg gratings, systems based on chirped gratings, intragrating sensing concepts, long period-based grating sensors, fiber grating laser-based systems, and interferometric sensor systems based on grating reflectors.

Fiber grating sensors

A topical review of numerical and experimental studies of supercontinuum generation in photonic crystal fiber is presented over the full range of experimentally reported parameters, from the femtosecond to the continuous-wave regime. Results from numerical simulations are used to discuss the temporal and spectral characteristics of the supercontinuum, and to interpret the physics of the underlying spectral broadening processes. Particular attention is given to the case of supercontinuum generation seeded by femtosecond pulses in the anomalous group velocity dispersion regime of photonic crystal fiber, where the processes of soliton fission, stimulated Raman scattering, and dispersive wave generation are reviewed in detail. The corresponding intensity and phase stability properties of the supercontinuum spectra generated under different conditions are also discussed.

Supercontinuum generation in photonic crystal fiber

PCFs offer remarkable control over light-matter interactions. Examples include generation of ultra-broadband supercontinua from infrared pulses, strong opto-mechanical effects, twisted PCFs that preserve orbital angular momentum in sign and magnitude and VUV generation in gases.

Novel Light-Matter Interactions in Photonic Crystal Fibres

Photonic crystal fibre, or holey fibre, offers a new paradigm in optical fibre where the effective properties of the holey material can be engineered to differ widely from the bulk properties of the matrix material. This engineering freedom has led to development of fibres with unusual and useful properties for applications throughout physical and biological sciences.

Recent progress in photonic crystal fibers

We discuss high index-contrast hybrid all-solid band-gap-guiding waveguides on the basis of chalcogenide-filled silica photonic crystal fibers. We observe strong band-gaps and pass-bands in devices as short as several millimeters.

Band-gap guidance in chalcogenide-silica photonic crystal fibers

Summary form only given. Photonic crystal fibers (PCFs) were first demonstrated in 1996. They are all-silica fibers in which the cladding consists of a two-dimensional array of microscopic air holes running along their length. The central hole of the structure is missing, leaving a solid silica core to guide the light. The periodic nature of the cladding makes also possible the existence of acoustic band gaps. Moreover, the core can also act as a defect of the phononic crystal and so elastic defect modes can be confined in this region. Here we present the first experimental demonstration of an acoustic defect mode trapped at the solid core in a square-lattice PCF preform.

Optical measurement of trapped acoustic mode at defect in square-lattice photonic crystal fiber preform

Through their unique properties - often offering orders of magnitude improvement over previous technologies - photonic crystal fibres are giving rise to numerous new applications spanning many areas of science.

Philip St. J. Russell

Papers

Novel Light-Matter Interactions in Photonic Crystal Fibres

Recent progress in photonic crystal fibers

Band-gap guidance in chalcogenide-silica photonic crystal fibers

Optical measurement of trapped acoustic mode at defect in square-lattice photonic crystal fiber preform

Photonic crystal fibres: A new era in the control of light