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Parametric Optomechanical Oscillations in Two-Dimensional Slot-Type High-Q Photonic Crystal Cavities

We experimentally demonstrate an optomechanical cavity based on an air-slot photonic crystal cavity with optical quality factor Qo=4.2\times10^4 and a small modal volume of 0.05 cubic wavelengths. The optical mode is coupled with the in-plane mechanical modes with frequencies up to hundreds of MHz. The fundamental mechanical mode shows a frequency of 65 MHz and a mechanical quality factor of 376. The optical spring effect, optical damping and amplification are observed with a large experimental optomechanical coupling rate gom/2pi of 154 GHz/nm, corresponding to a vacuum optomechanical coupling rate g*/2pi of 707 kHz. With sub-mW or less input power levels, the cavity exhibits strong parametric oscillations. The phase noise of the photonic crystal optomechanical oscillator is also measured.