Unidirectional Synchronization of Silicon Optomechanical Nanobeam Oscillators by External Feedback

Abstract

The remote synchronization of oscillators is essential for improving the performance, efficiency, and reliability of various systems and technologies, ranging from everyday telecommunications to cutting-edge scientific research and emerging technologies. In this work, we unequivocally demonstrate a unidirectional type of synchronization between two self-sustained optomechanical crystal oscillators that interact solely through an external optical feedback stage. Several pieces of experimental evidence rule out the possibility of resonant forcing and, in contrast to previous works, indicate that synchronization is achieved in the regime of natural dynamics suppression. Our experimental results are in agreement with the predictions of a numerical model describing the specific mechanical lasing dynamics of each oscillator and the unidirectional interaction between them. The outcomes of our study pave the way toward the synchronization of clock signals corresponding to far-placed processing elements in a future synchronous photonic integrated circuit.