We demonstrate the possibility of optical nonreciprocal response in a three-mode optomechanical system where one mechanical mode is optomechanically coupled to two linearly coupled optical modes simultaneously. The optical nonreciprocal behavior is induced by the phase difference between the two optomechanical coupling rates, which breaks the time-reversal symmetry of the three-mode optomechanical system. Moreover, the three-mode optomechanical system can also be used as a three-port circulator for two optical modes and one mechanical mode, which we refer to as an optomechanical circulator.

• Received 5 March 2015

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.91.053854