Acousto-optic couplings in two-dimensional phoxonic crystal cavities

Abstract

We investigate the acousto-optic coupling, based on both photo-elastic and opto-mechanical mechanisms, in periodic structures with simultaneous photonic and phononic band gaps. The investigations are focused on a cavity defect in which the strong confinement of acoustic and optic waves enhances the interaction. We calculate the modulation of each photonic mode frequency by each phononic mode confined in the cavity. We compare the strength for the photo-elastic and opto-mechanical effects in the different cases. Both mechanisms can be in phase or out of phase and produce additive or subtractive effects in the total acousto-optic coupling.