Synchronization of Micromechanical Oscillators Using Light
Mian Zhang, Gustavo Wiederhecker, Sasikanth Manipatruni, Arthur Barnard, Paul McEuen, and Michal Lipson
Phys. Rev. Lett. 109, 233906 (2012) – cover article.
Synchronization, the emergence of spontaneous order in coupled systems, is of fundamental importance in both physical and biological systems. We demonstrate the synchronization of two dissimilar silicon nitride micromechanical oscillators, that are spaced apart by a few hundred nanometers and are coupled through optical radiation field. The tunability of the optical coupling between the oscillators enables one to externally control the dynamics and switch between coupled and individual oscillation states. These results pave a path towards reconfigurable massive synchronized oscillator networks.
