Programming nanomechanical computation with light

Abstract

Looking at physical systems as computers allows us to regard physical properties, such as thermal noise, symmetry or topology, as unconventional resources for computation. However, harnessing these resources requires programming computational functionality through strong, controllable nonlinearities in the system. Here, we show that cavity optomechanical interactions allow laser-controlled computation with nanomechanical degrees of freedom. We demonstrate a set of basic digital logic gates with level restoration and controlled mechanical couplings as essential ingredients for arbitrary computing networks. Owing to the strong optomechanical nonlinearity and precise readout, the system operates close to thermal amplitudes, in the regime where thermodynamic stochasticity governs its behavior. This opens a new path for the realization of physical computing with controlled nonlinear resonators.