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Phys. Rev. A 79, 031804(R) (2009) [4 pages]

Optomechanical stochastic resonance in a macroscopic torsion oscillator

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F. Mueller*, S. Heugel, and L. J. Wang†
Institute of Optics, Information and Photonics, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg and Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany

Received 1 April 2008; published 23 March 2009

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Linear mechanical oscillators have been applied to measure very small forces, mostly with the help of noise suppression. In contrast, adding noise to nonlinear oscillators can improve the measurement conditions. Here, this effect of stochastic resonance is demonstrated in a macroscopic torsion oscillator, for an optomechanical nonlinear potential. The signal output is enhanced for a subthreshold electronic signal. This nonlinear oscillator serves as a model system for the enhancement of signal-to-noise ratio in high precision optomechanical experiments.

© 2009 The American Physical Society

URL:
http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevA.79.031804
DOI:
10.1103/PhysRevA.79.031804
PACS:
42.65.Pc, 02.50.Ey

*Present address: Schaeffler KG, D-91074 Herzogenaurach, Germany.

†lijun.wang@physik.uni-erlangen.de

 
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