Dynamical scattering models in optomechanics : going beyond the ‘coupled cavities’ model

Abstract

Recently we calculated the radiation field and the optical forces acting on a moving object inside a general one-dimensional configuration of immobile optical elements (Xuereb et al 2010 Phys. Rev. Lett. 105 013602). In this paper, we analyse the forces acting on a semi-transparent mirror in the ‘membrane-in-the-middle’ configuration and compare the results obtained from solving the scattering model to those from the coupled cavities model that is often used in cavity optomechanical systems. We highlight the departure of this model from the more exact scattering theory when the intensity reflectivity of the moving element drops below about 50%.