Optical cavity cooling and non-linear dynamics of a functionalized silicon nitride membrane

Optomechanics is a rapidly expanding field focused on the interaction between light and mechanical motion of a resonator. Optical back-action effects associated with confined electromagnetic modes in an optical cavity is used to decrease the mechanical energy of the mode, showing promise for both applications and fundamental investigation. Applying the cavity cooling method to optically active semiconductors offers additional interesting prospects, because of their internal electronic degrees of freedom. Engineered semiconductor devices enable strongly enhanced light-matter interactions, while organic materials offer a much broader dynamical range of parameters and are easier to process compared with inorganic semiconductors.