Dr Christopher Baker

UQ Amplify Fellow

Physics
Faculty of Science
c.baker3@uq.edu.au
+61 7 336 53436

Overview

Dr Baker’s research to date has been broadly focussed in the area cavity-optomechanics, with expertise in a range of related topics including superfluid physics, on-chip photonics, nanomechanical logic and micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS).

He received a PhD in Physics from the University of Paris in 2013 for work in the field of cavity optomechanics.

He is currently an ARC DECRA Fellow physicist at the University of Queensland, working in the Queensland Quantum Optics Laboratory with Professor Warwick Bowen.

You can read more about his research and access his latest publications on his personal website.

Research Interests

  • Superfluid optomechanics
    Cavity optomechanics focuses on the interaction between confined light and a mechanical degree of freedom. Vibrational modes of superfluid helium-4 have recently been identified as an attractive mechanical element for cavity optomechanics, thanks to their ultra-low dissipation arising from superfluid’s viscosity-free flow. Our approach to superfluid optomechanics is based on nanometer-thick films of superfluid helium which self-assemble on the surface of a microscale optical resonator. Main results include the first demonstration of laser cooling of any liquid [Nature Physics, 12, 788, 2016], ultra-low threshold quantum-fluid based Brillouin lasers [Nature Physics, 16, 417, 2020] and the first observation of vortex dynamics in superfluid films [Science, 366, 1480, 2019].
  • Nanomechanical logic
    The goal of this research is to develop the building blocks for scalable integrated phononic circuits, similar to those existing in the electronic and optical realms. Phononic circuits have many potential applications, including scalable computing based on mechanical vibrations, or phonons, confined at nanoscale in acoustic waveguides on a silicon chip. Nanomechanical computers of this kind promise inherent robustness to the ionising radiation that degrades semiconductor electronics in low-earth-orbit and deep space environments, as well as in close proximity to nuclear reactors and particle accelerators.
  • Cavity opto-electro-mechanics
    This research aims to create interfaces between light and electronics, through their common interaction with a mechanical element. Such interfaces can be used to integrate quantum photonic systems with quantum superconducting circuits in future quantum information devices, for improved on-chip clocks and receivers for mobile communications that benefit from laser control and measurement, and for scalable photonic circuitry and photonic links in next generation computer chips, among other applications.

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Université Denis Diderot Paris VII

Publications

  • He, Xin, Harris, Glen I., Baker, Christopher G., Sawadsky, Andreas, Sfendla, Yasmine L., Sachkou, Yauhen P., Forstner, Stefan and Bowen, Warwick P. (2020). Strong optical coupling through superfluid Brillouin lasing. Nature Physics, 16 (4), 417-421. doi: 10.1038/s41567-020-0785-0

  • Sachkou, Yauhen P., Baker, Christopher G., Harris, Glen I., Stockdale, Oliver R., Forstner, Stefan, Reeves, Matthew T., He, Xin, McAuslan, David L., Bradley, Ashton S., Davis, Matthew J. and Bowen, Warwick P. (2019). Coherent vortex dynamics in a strongly interacting superfluid on a silicon chip. Science, 366 (6472), 1480-1485. doi: 10.1126/science.aaw9229

  • Bekker, Christiaan, Kalra, Rachpon, Baker, Christopher and Bowen, Warwick P. (2017). Injection locking of an electro-optomechanical device. Optica, 4 (10) 301920, 1196-1204. doi: 10.1364/OPTICA.4.001196

  • Gil-Santos, E., Labousse, M., Baker, C., Goetschy, A., Hease, W., Gomez, C., Lemaitre, A., Leo, G., Ciuti, C. and Favero, I. (2017). Light-mediated cascaded locking of Multiple nano-optomechanical oscillators. Physical Review Letters, 118 (063605) 063605. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.118.063605

  • Gil-Santos, Eduardo, Baker, Christopher, Lemaitre, Aristide, Gomez, Carmen, Leo, Giuseppe and Favero, Ivan (2017). Scalable high-precision tuning of photonic resonators by resonant cavity-enhanced photoelectrochemical etching. Nature Communications, 8 (1) 14267, 14267.1-14267.7. doi: 10.1038/ncomms14267

  • Harris, G. I., McAuslan, D. L., Sheridan, E., Sachkou, Y., Baker, C. and Bowen, W. P. (2016). Laser cooling and control of excitations in superfluid helium. Nature Physics, 12 (8), 788-793. doi: 10.1038/nphys3714

  • Gil-Santos, E., Baker, C., Nguyen, D. T., Hease, W., Gomez, C., Lemaitre, A., Ducci, S., Leo, G. and Favero, I. (2015). High-frequency nano-optomechanical disk resonators in liquids. Nature Nanotechnology, 10 (9), 810-816. doi: 10.1038/nnano.2015.160

View all Publications

Grants

View all Grants

Supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

  • Doctor Philosophy

  • Doctor Philosophy

View all Supervision

Publications

Featured Publications

Book Chapter

  • Schmidt, Mikołaj K., Baker, Christopher G. and Laer, Raphaël Van (2022). The convergence of cavity optomechanics and Brillouin scattering. Brillouin Scattering Part 1. (pp. 93-131) London, United Kingdom: Academic Press. doi: 10.1016/bs.semsem.2022.04.005

  • Bowen, Warwick P., Baker, Christopher G. and Harris, Jack G. E. (2022). Superfluid SBS. Brillouin scattering; Part 1. (pp. 193-225) edited by Benjamin J. Eggleton, Michael J. Steel and Christopher G. Poulton. Cambridge, MA, United States: Academic Press. doi: 10.1016/bs.semsem.2022.04.004

  • Ding, Lu, Baker, Christophe, Andronico, Alessio, Parrain, David, Senellart, Pascale, Lemaitre, Aristide, Ducci, Sara, Leo, Giuseppe and Favero, Ivan (2014). Gallium arsenide disk optomechanical resonators. Handbook of optical microcavities. (pp. 381-440) edited by Choi, Anthony H. W.. Boca Raton, FL USA: Pan Stanford Publishing Pte. Ltd.. doi: 10.1201/b17366-12

Journal Article

Conference Publication

  • Sfendla, Yasmine L., He, Xin, Harris, Glen I., Baker, Christopher G., Sawadsky, Andreas, Sachkou, Yauhen P., Forstner, Stefan and Bowen, Warwick P. (2020). Strong photon coupling and confinement in an on-chip liquid-based brillouin laser. Frontiers in Optics + Laser Science APS/DLS, Washington, DC, United States, 14-17 September 2020. Washington, DC, United States: The Optical Society. doi: 10.1364/FIO.2020.JTu7B.4

  • Bekker, Christiaan, Baker, Christopher G., Kalra, Rachpon, Cheng, Han-Hao, Li, Bei-Bei, Prakash, Varun and Bowen, Warwick P. (2019). Free spectral range electrical tuning of a double disk microcavity. Optica Publishing Group (formerly OSA). doi: 10.1364/QIM.2019.T5A.2

  • He, Xin, Baker, Christopher, Sachkou, Yauhen, Sawadsky, Andreas, Forstner, Stefan, Sfendla, Yasmine and Bowen, Warwick (2018). Phonon confinement by the force of light. Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics/Pacific Rim, CLEOPR 2018, Hong Kong, China, July 29 - August 3 2018. Washington, DC United States: OSA - The Optical Society. doi: 10.1364/cleopr.2018.tu3f.3

  • Bekker, Christiaan, Baker, Christopher, Kalra, Rachpon and Bowen, Warwick P. (2017). Inertial injection locking in an electro-optomechanical system. Frontiers in Optics 2017, Washington, D.C., United States, 18–21 September 2017. Washington, D.C.: OSA - The Optical Society. doi: 10.1364/FIO.2017.FTh3B.1

  • Gil-Santos, Eduardo, Baker, Christophe, Dac Trung Nguyen, Hease, William, Gomez, Carmen, Lemaitre, Aristide, Ducci, Sara, Leo, Giuseppe and Favero, Ivan (2016). Nano-optomechanical disk resonators operating in liquids for sensing applications. 29th IEEE International Conference on Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS), Shanghai, Peoples Republic of China, 24-28 January 2016. Piscataway, NJ, United States: IEEE. doi: 10.1109/MEMSYS.2016.7421603

  • McAuslan, D. L., Harris, G. I., Baker C., Sachkou Y. and Bowen, W. P. (2016). Superfluid optomechanics. Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Pacific Rim, Busan, Korea, 24-28 August 2015. Piscataway, NJ, United States: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. doi: 10.1109/CLEOPR.2015.7375887

  • Harris, G. I., McAuslan, D. L., Baker, C., Sachkou, Y., Sheridan, E., Duan, Z. and Bowen, W. P. (2015). Optomechanics with superfluid helium-4. CLEO: QELS Applications and Technology (CLEO QELS 2015), San Jose, CA, United States, 10-15 May 2015. Washington, DC, United States: Optical Society of America (OSA). doi: 10.1364/CLEO_AT.2015.JTh5B.2

  • Parrain, D., Nguyen, D. T., Baker, C., Senellart, P., Lemaitre, A., Leo, G., Ducci, S. and Favero, I. (2013). Non-linear Optomechanical Resonators based on Gallium Arsenide. Nonlinear Optics 2013, Kohala Coast, Hawaii, United States, 21–26 July 2013. Washington, DC United States: Optical Society of America. doi: 10.1364/nlo.2013.nw3b.5

  • Baker, C., Parrain, D., Senellart, P., Lemaitre, A., Ducci, S., Leo, G. and Favero, I. (2012). GaAs nano-optomechanical systems. Laser Science 2012, Rochester, New York, United States, 14–18 October 2012. Washington, D.C., United States: OSA. doi: 10.1364/ls.2012.lth2h.4

  • Baker, C., Ding, L., Senellart, P., Lemaitre, A., Ducci, S., Leo, G. and Favero, I. (2011). GaAs disks optomechanics. Frontiers in Optics, FiO 2011, , , October 16, 2011-October 20, 2011.

  • Baker, C., Ding, L., Senellart, P., Lemaitre, A., Ducci, S., Leo, G. and Favero, I. (2011). GaAs disks optomechanics. European Quantum Electronics Conference, EQEC 2011, , , May 22, 2011-May 26, 2011.

  • Baker, C., Ding, L., Senellart, P., Lemaitre, A., Ducci, S., Leo, G. and Favero, I. (2011). GaAs disks optomechanics. 2011 Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Europe and 12th European Quantum Electronics Conference, CLEO EUROPE/EQEC 2011, , , May 22, 2011-May 26, 2011. IEEE. doi: 10.1109/cleoe.2011.5943653

  • Baker, C., Ding, L., Senellart, P., Lemaitre, A., Ducci, S., Leo, G. and Favero, I. (2011). GaAs disks optomechanics. Frontiers in Optics 2011 , San Jose, California, United States , 16–20 October 2011. Washington, D.C., United States: OSA. doi: 10.1364/fio.2011.ftun1

Other Outputs

  • Bowen, Warwick Paul, Baker, Christopher Galmiche, Harris, Glen Ivor, Mauranyapin, Nicolas Pierre, Hirsch, Timothy Martin Fox and Romero Sanchez, Erick Rafael (2022). Phononic circuit components. WO2022178589A1.

  • Warwick Bowen and Christopher Baker (2019). Tunable optical device. US10509172B2.

  • Favero, Ivan , Baker, Christopher and Gil-Santos, Eduardo (2016). Method for tuning one or more resonator(s). WO2016146409 A1.

  • Baker, Christopher (2013). On-chip nano-optomechanical whispering gallery resonators. PhD Thesis, Laboratoire Matériaux et Phénomènes Quantiques, University Paris Diderot - Paris VII.

Grants (Administered at UQ)

PhD and MPhil Supervision

Current Supervision

Completed Supervision

Possible Research Projects

Note for students: The possible research projects listed on this page may not be comprehensive or up to date. Always feel free to contact the staff for more information, and also with your own research ideas.