A generic optomechanical system in the optical domain and the microwave domain is shown above ¹. Optomechanics is the study of the interaction between light and mechanical systems which can result in the manipulation of the state of both light and the mechanics. The nature of this interaction makes it interesting for a wide range of applications in both fundamental physics and technological advancements.

Optical and mechanical resonators

The physics of harmonic oscillators at a classical level is reviewed.

• Basics of cavities and resonators
• Basics of elasticity
• Mechanical dissipation and losses
• Stochastic processes and Brownian motion

Classical dynamics

The classical dynamics of optomechanical systems is introduced.

• Optomechanical coupling and equations of motion
• Dynamical backaction
• Nonlinear dynamics
• Quantization of harmonic oscillator

Quantum dynamics

This section begins to introduce the quantum mechanical dynamics of optomechanical systems.

• Quantum optics of a cavity
• Optomechanical Hamiltonian and quantum Langevin equations
• Quantum theory of optomechanical cooling
• Strong coupling regime
• Optomechanically induced transparency (OMIT)

Quantum correlations

This section introduces the role of quantum correlations in cavity quantum optomechanical system measurements.

• Homodyne detection
• Displacement sensing and the standard quantum limit
• Squeezed light and applications in gravitational wave detection
• Optomechanical squeezing
• Entanglement in cavity optomechanical systems

Experimental methods

This final section includes a few topics related to experimental realization of cavity optomechanical systems.

• Experimental platforms
• Photonic crystals
• Fabrication methods
• Finite element simulations

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