
Overview
Background
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.
Availability
- Dr Christopher Baker is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, Université Denis Diderot Paris VII
Research interests
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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].
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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.
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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.
Works
Search Professor Christopher Baker’s works on UQ eSpace
Featured
2020
Journal Article
Strong optical coupling through superfluid Brillouin lasing
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
Featured
2019
Journal Article
Coherent vortex dynamics in a strongly interacting superfluid on a silicon chip
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
Featured
2017
Journal Article
Injection locking of an electro-optomechanical device
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
Featured
2017
Journal Article
Light-mediated cascaded locking of Multiple nano-optomechanical oscillators
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
Featured
2017
Journal Article
Scalable high-precision tuning of photonic resonators by resonant cavity-enhanced photoelectrochemical etching
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
Featured
2016
Journal Article
Laser cooling and control of excitations in superfluid helium
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
Featured
2015
Journal Article
High-frequency nano-optomechanical disk resonators in liquids
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
2024
Journal Article
Engineering error correcting dynamics in nanomechanical systems
Jin, Xiaoya, Baker, Christopher G., Romero, Erick, Mauranyapin, Nicolas P., Hirsch, Timothy M. F., Bowen, Warwick P. and Harris, Glen I. (2024). Engineering error correcting dynamics in nanomechanical systems. Scientific Reports, 14 (1) 20431. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-71679-7
2024
Journal Article
Optomechanical dark matter instrument for direct detection
Baker, Christopher G., Bowen, Warwick P., Cox, Peter, Dolan, Matthew J., Goryachev, Maxim and Harris, Glen (2024). Optomechanical dark matter instrument for direct detection. Physical Review D, 110 (4) 043005. doi: 10.1103/physrevd.110.043005
2024
Journal Article
Acoustically driven single-frequency mechanical logic
Romero, Erick, Mauranyapin, Nicolas P., Hirsch, Timothy M. F., Kalra, Rachpon, Baker, Christopher G., Harris, Glen I. and Bowen, Warwick P. (2024). Acoustically driven single-frequency mechanical logic. Physical Review Applied, 21 (5) 054029, 1-19. doi: 10.1103/physrevapplied.21.054029
2024
Journal Article
Directional emission in an on-chip acoustic waveguide
Hirsch, T. M. F., Mauranyapin, N. P., Romero, E., Jin, X., Harris, G., Baker, C. G. and Bowen, W. P. (2024). Directional emission in an on-chip acoustic waveguide. Applied Physics Letters, 124 (1) 013504. doi: 10.1063/5.0180794
2023
Journal Article
Engineered entropic forces allow ultrastrong dynamical backaction
Sawadsky, Andreas, Harrison, Raymond A., Harris, Glen I., Wasserman, Walter W., Sfendla, Yasmine L., Bowen, Warwick P. and Baker, Christopher G. (2023). Engineered entropic forces allow ultrastrong dynamical backaction. Science Advances, 9 (21) eade3591, 1-10. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.ade3591
2023
Journal Article
Cascading of Nanomechanical Resonator Logic
Jin, X., Baker, C. G., Romero, E., Mauranyapin, N. P., Hirsch, T. M.F., Bowen, W. P. and Harris, G. I. (2023). Cascading of Nanomechanical Resonator Logic. International Journal of Unconventional Computing, 18 (1), 49-66.
2022
Other Outputs
Phononic circuit components
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.
2022
Journal Article
Cryogenic and hermetically sealed packaging of photonic chips for optomechanics
Wasserman, W. W., Harrison, R. A., Harris, G. I., Sawadsky, A., Sfendla, Y. L., Bowen, W. P. and Baker, C. G. (2022). Cryogenic and hermetically sealed packaging of photonic chips for optomechanics. Optics Express, 30 (17) 30822, 30822-30831. doi: 10.1364/oe.463752
2022
Book Chapter
The convergence of cavity optomechanics and Brillouin scattering
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
2022
Book Chapter
Superfluid SBS
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
2021
Journal Article
Electro-optomechanical modulation instability in a semiconductor resonator
Allain, Pierre Etienne, Guha, Biswarup, Baker, Christophe, Parrain, David, Lemaître, Aristide, Leo, Giuseppe and Favero, Ivan (2021). Electro-optomechanical modulation instability in a semiconductor resonator. Physical Review Letters, 126 (24) 243901. doi: 10.1103/physrevlett.126.243901
2021
Journal Article
Tunneling of transverse acoustic waves on a silicon chip
Mauranyapin, Nicolas P., Romero, Erick, Kalra, Rachpon, Harris, Glen, Baker, Christopher G. and Bowen, Warwick P. (2021). Tunneling of transverse acoustic waves on a silicon chip. Physical Review Applied, 15 (5) 054036, 1-9. doi: 10.1103/physrevapplied.15.054036
2021
Journal Article
Extreme quantum nonlinearity in superfluid thin-film surface waves
Sfendla, Y. L., Baker, C. G., Harris, G. I., Tian, L., Harrison, R. A. and Bowen, W. P. (2021). Extreme quantum nonlinearity in superfluid thin-film surface waves. npj Quantum Information, 7 (1) 62, 1-12. doi: 10.1038/s41534-021-00393-3
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Christopher Baker is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Photonic readout & control of superfluid helium films
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Warwick Bowen
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Doctor Philosophy
Photonic readout & control of superfluid helium films
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Warwick Bowen
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Doctor Philosophy
Scalable and reversible computing with integrated nanomechanics
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nicolas Mauranyapin, Professor Warwick Bowen
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Doctor Philosophy
Towards Nonlinear Superfluid Hydrodynamics
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Warwick Bowen
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Doctor Philosophy
Building quantum devices out of superfluid helium
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Warwick Bowen
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Doctor Philosophy
Scalable and reversible computing with integrated nanomechanics
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nicolas Mauranyapin, Professor Warwick Bowen
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Doctor Philosophy
Cascaded Nanomechanical Logic
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nicolas Mauranyapin, Dr Nishta Arora, Professor Warwick Bowen
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Doctor Philosophy
Laser control of quantum vortices
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Warwick Bowen
Completed supervision
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Optomechanical state preparation via strong measurement
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Warwick Bowen
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Catching waves: Superfluid and light on a silicon chip
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Warwick Bowen
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Probing Quantum Macroscopicity with Cavity Optomechanics
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Warwick Bowen
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Integrated cavity opto-electromechanics: Electrical tuning and control of optomechanical systems
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Warwick Bowen
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Micro-resonator Optomechanics with Superfluid Helium
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Warwick Bowen
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Probing two-dimensional quantum fluids with cavity optomechanics
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Warwick Bowen
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Christopher Baker directly for media enquiries about:
- Optomechanics
- Photonics
- Superfluids
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