Optical Spring Effect: Basic Phenomena in Optomechanics

This lecture introduces the fundamental concepts of optomechanics without delving into mathematical details. Topics covered include how light affects the spring constant, creates multiple equilibrium positions, and can both dampen and anti-dampen motion. The lecture also discusses how photons interact with the system, providing or extracting energy. For a more in-depth understanding, the instructor recommends referring to the review article by Aspelmeyer, Kippenberg, and Marquardt in Reviews of Modern Physics 86, 1391 (2014), as well as lecture notes by Florian Marquardt from the Les Houches School 'Quantum Machines'.