Optomechanical Chaos in a Kerr Resonator: From Optical Microcavities to Nonlinear Dynamics

Optical microcavities have been a subject of intense research for several decades due to their exceptional optical properties. These tiny structures, typically a few microns in size, confine light in a highly resonant mode, resulting in high-Q factors and small mode volumes. As a consequence, optical microcavities have found numerous applications in areas such as sensing, communications, and quantum optics. However, the nonlinearity of these systems can lead to complex dynamics, including chaos. In this paper, we focus on the optomechanical chaos in a Kerr resonator, which arises from the interplay between the optical and mechanical degrees of freedom. We begin by discussing the excellent characteristics of optical microcavities, followed by their wide range of applications. Finally, we highlight the importance of considering nonlinearity in optical microcavities, which is crucial for understanding the observed chaotic behavior.