Phase-matched excitation of whispering-gallery-mode resonances by a fiber taper
TL;DR: It is shown that high-Q whispering-gallery modes in fused-silica microspheres can be efficiently excited by an optical fiber taper and is believed to be the most efficient excitation of a high- Q microcavity resonance by a monomode optical fiber yet demonstrated.
Abstract: We show that high-Q whispering-gallery modes in fused-silica microspheres can be efficiently excited by an optical fiber taper. By adjusting the taper diameter to match the ropagation constant of the mode in the taper with that of the resonant mode of interest, one can couple more than 90% of the light into the sphere. This represents a significant improvement in excitation efficiency compared with other methods and is, we believe, the most efficient excitation of a high- Q microcavity resonance by a monomode optical fiber yet demonstrated.
Citations
More filters
•
01 Jan 2005TL;DR: In quantum optical devices, microcavities can coax atoms or quantum dots to emit spontaneous photons in a desired direction or can provide an environment where dissipative mechanisms such as spontaneous emission are overcome so that quantum entanglement of radiation and matter is possible.
Abstract: Microcavity physics and design will be reviewed. Following an overview of applications in quantum optics, communications and biosensing, recent advances in ultra-high-Q research will be presented.
2,857 citations
••
06 Jun 2003TL;DR: This work demonstrates a process for producing silica toroid-shaped microresonators-on-a-chip with Q factors in excess of 100 million using a combination of lithography, dry etching and a selective reflow process, representing an improvement of nearly four orders of magnitude over previous chip-based resonators.
Abstract: We demonstrate microfabrication of ultra-high-Q microcavities on a chip, exhibiting a novel toroid-shaped geometry. The cavities possess Q-factors in excess of 100 million which constitutes an improvement close to 4 orders-of-magnitude in Q compared to previous work [B. Gayral, et al., 1999].
2,177 citations
••
TL;DR: The enhancement mechanisms responsible for the extreme sensitivity of the WGM biosensor are described, its current implementations and applications are reviewed, and its future possibilities are discussed.
Abstract: Optical label-free detectors, such as the venerable surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor, are generally favored for their ability to obtain quantitative data on intermolecular binding. However, before the recent introduction of resonant microcavities that use whispering gallery mode (WGM) recirculation, sensitivity to single binding events had not materialized. Here we describe the enhancement mechanisms responsible for the extreme sensitivity of the WGM biosensor, review its current implementations and applications, and discuss its future possibilities.
1,621 citations
••
TL;DR: In this article, a two-step process is described to generate a micrometer sized diameter silica preform fiber, and then the preform is drawn while coupled to a support element to form a nanometer sized diameter fiber.
Abstract: The present invention provides nanometer-sized diameter silica fibers that exhibit high diameter uniformity and surface smoothness. The silica fibers can have diameters in a range of a about 20 nm to about 1000 nm. An exemplary method according to one embodiment of the invention for generating such fibers utilizes a two-step process in which in an initial step a micrometer sized diameter silica preform fiber is generated, and in a second step, the silica preform is drawn while coupled to a support element to form a nanometer sized diameter silica fiber. The portion of the support element to which the preform is coupled is maintained at a temperature suitable for drawing the nansized fiber, and is preferably controlled to exhibit a temporally stable temperature profile.
1,357 citations
••
TL;DR: In this article, the fundamental working equations required to describe the associated power transfer are derived and the application of this geometry to a variety of optical phenomena including add/dropping of optical beams, add/drop filtering and optical power switching are discussed.
Abstract: The most basic and generic configuration, which consists of a unidirectional coupling between a ring resonator and a waveguide, is considered. The fundamental working equations required to describe the associated power transfer are derived and the application of this geometry to a variety of optical phenomena is discussed. These phenomena include 'add/dropping' of optical beams, add/drop filtering and optical power switching.
1,108 citations
References
More filters
••
2,970 citations
•
01 Jan 2005
TL;DR: In this article, the authors outline the key principles and parameters which describe and define the operation of optical waveguides and fibres, including dispersion and non linear effects, and provide the foundation for understanding the detailed operation of a wide variety of optical components.
Abstract: In this chapter, after presenting a brief review of the various types of optical waveguides, we outline the key principles and parameters which describe and define the operation of optical waveguides and fibres The ways in which propagation through optical fibres affects the properties of the guided waves are discussed, including dispersion and non linear effects Power transfer between propagating waves is essential to the operation of a number of components and the fundamentals of coupling theory are reviewed In summary, the theory given provides the foundation for understanding the detailed operation of a wide variety of optical components and systems based on optical fibre technology
1,867 citations
••
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that quality factor Q - (0.8 +/- 0.1) x 10(10) of whispering-gallery modes in fused-silica microspheres at 633 nm, close to the ultimate level determined by fundamental material attenuation as measured in optical fibers, is demonstrated.
Abstract: We demonstrate the quality factor Q - (0.8 +/- 0.1) x 10(10) of whispering-gallery modes in fused-silica microspheres at 633 nm, close to the ultimate level determined by fundamental material attenuation as measured in optical fibers. The lifetime of ultimate Q is limited by adsorption of atmospheric water. Monitoring of adsorption kinetics with submonolayer sensitivity by Q factors and frequencies of whispering-gallery modes is demonstrated. The possibility of supermaterial Q's owing to intrinsic suppression of scattering losses in micropheres is discussed.
986 citations
••
TL;DR: In this article, the properties of optical resonators with quality-factor Q⩾108, effective volume of e.m. field localization Veff ≥ 10−9 cm3 and threshold power of optical bistability Wbist≈10−5 W are described.
791 citations
••
TL;DR: In this article, the whispering-gallery modes of 60 to 200 μm diameter microspheres obtained by fusing with a CO2 laser the end of a high-transmission silica fibre were studied.
Abstract: We have studied by phase modulation spectroscopy the whispering-gallery modes (Mie resonances) of 60 to 200 μm diameter microspheres obtained by fusing with a CO2 laser the end of a high-transmission silica fibre. An evanescent wave at 780 nm was produced by total internal reflection of a phase-modulated semiconductor diode laser beam in a glass prism. It was coupled into the Mie mode of the microsphere positioned at a fixed distance from the prism face. The spectrum was obtained by measuring the phase-to-amplitude conversion of the laser beam modulation as its carrier frequency was scanned. Record Q-factors ≥ 2 109 were observed, corresponding to photon storage times longer than 1 μs. Applications of these resonances to fundamental and applied projects are discussed.
380 citations