QUROPE Quantum Information Processing and Communication in Europe

The interaction between dielectric particles and a laser-driven optical cavity gives rise to both conservative and dissipative dynamics, which can be used to levitate, trap, and cool nanoparticles. We analytically and numerically study a two-mode setup in which the optical potentials along the cavity axis cancel, so that the resulting dynamics is almost purely dissipative. For appropriate detunings of the laser drives, this dissipative optomechanical dynamics can be used to sort particles according to their size, to rectify their velocities, and to enhance transverse cooling.