Paper detail

Solid state based analog of optomechanics

We investigate a semiconductor quantum dot as a microscopic analog of a basic optomechanical setup. We show, that optomechanical features can be reproduced by the solid-state platform, arising from parallels of the underlying interaction processes, which in the optomechanical case is the radiation pressure coupling and in the semiconductor case the electron-phonon coupling. In optomechanics, phonons are typically induced via confined photons, acting on a movable mirror, while in the semiconductor system the phonons are emitted by the laser-driven electronic system. There are analogous effects present for both systems, featuring bistabilities, optically induced phonon lasing and enhanced phonon loss. Nonetheless, the different statistical nature of the optical cavity and the electronic system also leads to qualitative differences.