Enhancing quantum correlations and entanglement in an optomechanical system via cross-Kerr nonlinearity

Abstract: In this work, we theoretically study the quantum correlations present in an optomechanical system by invoking an additional cross-Kerr coupling between the optical and mechanical mode. Under experimentally achievable conditions, we first show that a significant enhancement of the steady-state entanglement could be achieved at a considerably lower driving power, which is also extremely robust with respect to system parameters and environmental temperature. Then, we employ Gaussian quantum discord as a witness of the genuine quantumness of the correlation present in the system and discuss its dependence on the cross-Kerr nonlinearity.