Heat transfer between micro- and nano-mechanical systems through optical channels

In this paper, a new mechanism of heat transfer is introduced. It is shown that, without emission and absorption of photons, light can operate as a channel of heat transfer between nano- or micro-mechanical oscillators. We consider the dynamics of two vibrating mirrors coupled through one optical cavity mode in an optomechanical system. It is shown that light mediates heat transfer between two micro- mirrors. When the detuning frequency of the mechanical resonators is low, fluctuations flow through the light channel from the high temperature vibrating mirror toward the low temperature one. This behavior is named the resonance heat transfer effect. The rate of heat flow between the mechanical resonators depends on the detuning frequency of mechanical resonators, heat bath temperatures, laser intensity, and optomechanical regime of operation. Heat transfer in good and bad cavity regimes of operation is investigated. (C) 2014 Optical Society of America