An Optomechanical Oscillator on a Silicon Chip

The recent observation on radiation-pressure-driven self-sustained oscillation in high-
Q
optical microresonators has created new possibilities for development of photonic devices that benefit from unique functionalities offered by these ¿optomechanical oscillators¿ (OMOs). Here, we review the physics, fundamental characteristics, and potential applications of OMOs using the silica microtoroidal OMO as an example.