Controllable optical bistability based on photons and phonons in a two-mode optomechanical system

Abstract

We explore theoretically the bistable behavior of the intracavity photon number in a two-mode cavity optomechanical system, where two cavity modes are coupled to a common mechanical resonator. When the two cavity modes are driven by two pump laser beams, respectively, we find that the optical bistability can be controlled by tuning the power and the frequency of the pump beams. The common interaction with a mechanical mode enables one to control the bistable behavior in one cavity by adjusting the pump laser beam driving another cavity. We also show theoretically that both branches of optical bistability at photon numbers below unity can exist in this two-mode optomechanical system. This phenomenon can find potential applications in a controllable optical switch.