We theoretically demonstrate the possibility of using nanomechanical systems as single-photon routers. We show how electromagnetically induced transparency in cavity optomechanical systems can be used to produce a switch for a probe field in a single-photon Fock state using very low pumping powers of a few microwatts. We present estimates of vacuum and thermal noise and show that the optimal performance of the single-photon switch is deteriorated by only a few percent even at temperatures of the order of 20 mK.

• Received 19 September 2011

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.85.021801