Backscattering analysis in optical micro-resonators with mode splitting based on COMSOL

Abstract

Rayleigh backscattering noise, which is one of the reasons that limit the sensitivity, has been deemed as noise in traditional resonant optic gyroscopes. However Rayleigh backscattering noise is one of the incentives of mode splitting phenomenon in high-Q resonators. Regarding the change of the resonance frequency of the resonator caused by the scattering signal as a measurement, we can use mode splitting to measure temperature, size of nanoparticle, etc. Light is confined by total internal reflection in whispering gallery mode (WGM) optical resonators, which is characterized by high-Q factors and small mode volumes. With regards to this, we propose a sensing mechanism based on mode splitting in high-Q WGM optical resonators. It is possible for us to measure the angular velocity of carrier according to the changes in the resonant frequencies of the two splitting modes. We propose the Miniature resonant optic gyroscope based on mode splitting (MROG-MS) with WGM resonators in the paper. Considering the Sagnac effect, mode splitting in high quality optical micro-resonators, and the rotation-induced impact on backscattering process, we modify the equations of motion that describe mode splitting, derive the explicit expression of angular rate versus the splitting amount, and verify the sensing mechanism by the simulation based on COMSOL. Furthermore, after monitoring the transmission spectra at different number of scattering particles, the simulation shows that mode splitting phenomenon resulted by single particle is more suitable for angular velocity measurement.