Monolayer graphene as dissipative membrane in an optical resonator

Abstract

We experimentally demonstrate coupling of an atomically thin, freestanding graphene membrane to an optical cavity. By changing the position of the membrane along the standing-wave field of the cavity, we tailor the dissipative coupling between the membrane and the cavity, and we show that the dissipative coupling can outweigh the dispersive coupling. Such a system, for which controlled dissipation prevails dispersion, will prove useful for novel laser-cooling schemes in optomechanics. In addition, we have determined the continuous-wave optical damage threshold of free-standing monolayer graphene of 1.8(4) MW/cm 2 at 780 nm.