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

A particle testing apparatus (100), being configured for investigating particles in a fluid medium, comprises a waveguide device (10) including a hollow optical waveguide (11) having an input end (12) and an output end (13), an irradiation device (20) including a laser source (21) being arranged for optically trapping at least one particle at the input end (12) of the optical waveguide (11) and propelling the particle through the optical waveguide (11) toward the output end (13) thereof, and a measuring device (30) being arranged for sensing the at least one particle in the optical waveguide (11), wherein the measuring device (30) is arranged for measuring an optical transmission of the optical waveguide (11). Furthermore, a particle testing apparatus is described.

Apparatus and methods for particle testing

We present recent studies of photonic crystal fibre ring cavity synchronously pumped by femtosecond pulses. In the case of a Xe-filled kagome fibre, we predict the appearance of spontaneous symmetry breaking as well as multistability.

Solid-core and hollow-core photonic crystal fibre as nonlinear element for synchronously pumped ring cavities

By filling the holes of microstructured optical fibers with particular materials, we implement highly nonlinear chalcogenide-silica waveguides for mid-IR supercontinuum generation and plasmonic fibers showing hybridized plasmonics excitations with a sophisticated near field polarization.

Hybrid Fibers: An Innovative base for Plasmonics and Nonlinear Optics

Sub-40 fs pulses at 1.8 μm are generated by pumping H 2 -filled hollow-core PCF with 300 fs, 1.03 μm fiber laser pulses pre-chirped to a duration of 640 fs. Conversion efficiencies of 50% are obtained.

Efficient Chirp-Assisted SRS in H 2 -Filled Hollow-Core PCF for Generation of Ultrashort LP 01 Pulses at 1.8 μm

Tightly-trapped optoacoustic interactions in solid-core photonic crystal fibers have been successfully used for harmonically mode-locking fiber lasers at GHz repetition rate and storing encoded GHz-rate soliton sequence in the laser cavity over many hours.

Philip St. J. Russell

Papers

Apparatus and methods for particle testing

Solid-core and hollow-core photonic crystal fibre as nonlinear element for synchronously pumped ring cavities

Hybrid Fibers: An Innovative base for Plasmonics and Nonlinear Optics

Efficient Chirp-Assisted SRS in H 2 -Filled Hollow-Core PCF for Generation of Ultrashort LP 01 Pulses at 1.8 μm

Stable GHz-Rate Mode-Locking of Fiber Lasers by Optoacoustic Effects in Photonic Crystal Fibers