Optomechanics of deformable optical cavities

Resonant optical cavities such as Fabry-Perot resonators or whispering-gallery structures are subject to radiation pressure their reflecting 'walls' apart. Deformable optical cavities yield to this pressure, but in doing so they in turn affect stored optical energy, resulting in an optical back-action. For such cavities the optics and the mechanics become strongly coupled, making them fascinating systems in which to explore theories of measurements at the quantum limit. Here we provide a summary of the current state of optomechanics of deformable optical cavities, identifying some of the most important recent in the field.