Whispering Gallery Mode Research Articles

A Widely and Continuously Tunable Single-Mode Transmitter Based on a Hybrid Microcavity Laser

A method for achieving the single-mode and efficient unidirectional emission of a whispering gallery mode (WGM) semiconductor laser is presented herein. Hybrid square-rectangular lasers (HSRLs) and hybrid square/rhombus-rectangular lasers (HSRRLs) consisting of a Fabry–Pérot (FP) cavity and a square or rhombus cavity microcavity are described. In addition, a transmitter optical subassembly (TOSA) based on an HSRRL chip was fabricated, which has a wide and continuous wavelength tuning range. Wavelength channels from 1555.75 nm to 1568.15 nm with a spacing of 50 GHz were demonstrated with a good side mode suppression ratio (SMSR) and good output power. These devices have the potential to meet the typical requirements of optical communication networks.

Open whispering gallery mode resonators.

There are some issues with traditional whispering gallery mode (WGM) resonators such as poor light extraction and a dense mode spectrum. In this paper, we introduce a solution to these limitations by proposing open WGM (OWGM) resonators that effectively reduce the mode density and enable directional radiation through a connected waveguide at the expense of some lowering in Q-factor. Numerical simulations of two-dimensional metallic and dielectric disk resonators with holes reveal a significant increase in intermode distance. The study also extends to three-dimensional dielectric OWGM resonators, demonstrating the formation of sparse spectra suitable for photonic applications. Additionally, the design of a cylindrical Bragg microresonator connected to a single-mode fiber via an optimized topology-based connector achieves near-unity transmission and efficient coupling. This approach enhances the development of new photonic devices, addressing the limitations of traditional high Q-factor WGM resonators and offering potential advancements in laser technology and optical communications.

A novel gyroscope based on the slow surface acoustic wave in a phononic metamaterial.

Limited to the direct modulation on the surface acoustic wave (SAW) by the rotation, the conventional SAW gyroscopes incur weak Coriolis effects and gyroscopic effects. In this paper, we innovatively utilize a phononic metamaterial (PM) operated at whispering-gallery modes (WGMs) as the vehicle for the Coriolis effect rather than SAW itself. The gyroscopic effects of this PM are investigated, and a new SAW gyroscope is subsequently proposed based on the slow SAW in PM. We show, combining theoretical modeling and finite element method simulation, that the rate of rotation can linearly induce the splitting of WGMs and modulate the phase velocity of SAW down to 4600 m/s (initial phase velocity of 5355 m/s); the direction of rotation results in the chiral symmetry of the PM vibration and the asymmetric distribution of the transmissive SAW. Besides, the proposed SAW gyroscope measures the angular velocity by detecting the phase shift resulting from rotation-dependent slow SAW in PM, obtaining a sensitivity of 0.016 deg/Hz when 50-cell PM. Compared with the existing SAW gyroscopes based on phase velocity modulation, the gyroscopic gain factor in this paper is enhanced by 430-1600 times. This work jumps out of the framework of directly modulating SAW in gyroscopes and provides an innovative scheme of the indirect modulations from the rotation-dependent PM on SAW, showing excellent performance and potential for angular velocity measurement in extreme environments.

Bound states in the continuum in whispering gallery resonators with pointlike impurities.

Whispering gallery resonators offer a versatile platform for manipulating the photonic transmission. Here, we study such a system, including periodically distributed pointlike impurities along the resonator with ring geometry. Based on an exact expression for the transmission probability we obtain here, we demonstrate that the bound states in the continuum (BICs) form from the whispering gallery modes at the high-symmetry momenta in the ring's Brillouin zone. Furthermore, the presence of the inversion symmetry allows for a selective decoupling of resonant states, favoring the BIC generation and, therefore, allowing extra tunability in the optical transmission of the system.

Dielectric microsphere sizing using fluorescence microscopy of whispering gallery mode resonances from adsorbed dyes

Whispering gallery mode (WGM) resonances in dielectric microspheres are very sensitive to their size and environment, which can be used for sensing but also as an indirect proxy to determine their size. By coating them with suitable fluorescent dyes and using fluorescence microscopy, we show that the WGM resonances of individual microspheres in solution can be easily studied with a high throughput. Brownian motion ensures that a representative sample is probed over time in the scattering volume. To analyze these WGM-imprinted fluorescent spectra, we propose a simple algorithm based on monitoring the spacing between resonances and comparing it to Mie theory predictions to infer their size. This allows us to measure the size distribution of typical polystyrene microsphere solutions. We also discuss the potential effects of dye concentration and choice of particle refractive index on the analysis. This method can be used, for example, for quality-testing microsphere solutions.

Single-mode selection in a non-strongly coupled whispering gallery mode cavity

Mode selection through coupling multiple cavities has proven to be an effective method for constructing single-mode lasers. In coupled Fabry–Perot cavities, it is well accepted that mode selection relies on the strong coupling effect of closely contacted component structures. However, in coupled whispering gallery mode (WGM) cavities, the mode-selection mechanism remains under debate due to the inconsistent characteristics of the selected mode. Herein, we elucidate that the inconsistency can be attributed to varied selection mechanisms led by the trade-off between coupling strength and field distortion. Particularly, it is demonstrated that except for a traditional strong-coupling configuration, single-mode selection can also be achieved in an intermediate-coupling WGM configuration, where two component cavities depart from each other. This study addresses the gap in understanding mode selection in WGM cavity structures and explains the varied characteristics of single-mode lasing reported in the literature, thereby offering new insights into the development of miniaturized, low-threshold, single-mode laser devices.

High-precision ethanol concentration microsensor with global spectra aided by the multi-layer perceptron

Whispering gallery mode (WGM) resonators can be used for precision measurement thanks to their high sensitivity, small size, and fast response time. Nevertheless, the design of such sensors is usually achieved by selecting a typical single-mode tracking method, which leads to low utilization of a great deal of information in the resonance spectrum and affects the precision. Here, we use the multi-layer perceptron (MLP) deep learning algorithm to train the global spectra and realize the high-precision measurement of ethanol concentration. Firstly, a large number of transmission spectra of different ethanol concentrations are collected and directly used as the original data sets. Secondly, the MLP algorithm is used for training and testing. Finally, the local feature dimension is extracted from the global features of the spectrum for prediction. The results show that the prediction accuracy of the global spectra sensing is 99.81%, which is 13.02% higher than that of extracting 10 local features. In addition, the prediction accuracy of the MLP is compared with four other commonly used machine learning (ML) algorithms, and the results show that the MLP algorithm has the highest prediction accuracy. Therefore, the high-precision ethanol concentration sensor proposed in this paper opens a new way for intelligent optical micro-resonator sensing.

Directional emission with super narrow divergence from perforated elliptical microdisk

In this work, a perforated polymeric elliptical microcavity is investigated by using the finite difference time domain (FDTD) method, highly directional laser emission with a far-field divergence angle of 2.57°, which is achieved without spoiling Q much. Further simulation analyses reveal that the far-field profile is insensitive to the deformation parameter of the hole, demonstrating the device is robust. In addition, the position of the hole and deformation parameter of the elliptical microcavity is vital for optimizing the far-field profile. Our work has provided an effective way to achieve directional whispering gallery mode emission with super narrow divergence, which will be important in integrated optics, optical communication and biochemical sensing.

Highly chiral exceptional point in coupled resonators perturbed by nanoscatterers

With employing strong chirality in an optical system, the direction of light propagation can be controlled and subwavelength particles can be detected. Here, we show that a different kind of chiral exceptional point (EP) with high (spatial) chirality can appear in a coupled resonator perturbed by nanoscatterers, in which both the distance and position of the scatterers can be tuned. We achieve strong chiral EP in two different distances between the resonators, with chirality around 0.99, in both cases. Besides, chiral EP associated with the higher harmonic whispering gallery mode is achieved, with chirality around 0.95. We also investigate the interaction of particles with same and different spin of light, which can mimic the spin-up and spin-down of electrons in quantum mechanics. The proposed device provides a tunable scheme to achieve high directionality of different cavity modes by incorporating one or more nanoscatterers. With incorporating more than one tunable mechanism such as nanoscatterers, nonlinearity, and time-modulation, simultaneously, the conventional limitations in chirality and sensitivity may be surpassed in the presence of unwanted imperfections of fabrication and noisy environment.

Whispering Gallery Mode Micro/Nanolasers for Intracellular Probing at Single Cell Resolution.

Intracellular probing at single cell resolution is key to revealing the heterogeneity of cells, learning new cell subtypes and functions, understanding the pathophysiology of disease, and ensuring precise diagnosis and treatment. Despite the best efforts, an enormous challenge remains due to the very small size, extremely low content, and dynamic microenvironment of a single cell. Whispering gallery mode (WGM) micro/nanolasers (active WGM) offer unique advantages of small mode volume, high quality factors, bright and low threshold laser emission, and narrow line width, particularly suitable for integration within a single cell. In this review, we provide a focused overview of WGM micro/nanolasers for intracellular probing. We deliver information on WGM micro/nanolaser concepts, sensing mechanism, and biocompatibility, as well as recent progress in intracellular probing applications mainly covering cellular-level sensing, molecular-level detection, and feasibility for cellular imaging. At the end, challenges and prospects of WGM micro/nanolasers for intracellular applications are discussed.

Regulation and Liquid Sensing of Electromagnetically Induced Transparency-like Phenomena Implemented in a SNAP Microresonator.

Optical microresonators supporting whispering-gallery modes (WGMs) have become a versatile platform for achieving electromagnetically induced transparency-like (EIT-like) phenomena. We theoretically and experimentally demonstrated the tunable coupled-mode induced transparency based on the surface nanoscale axial photonics (SNAP) microresonator. Single-EIT-like and double-EIT-like (DEIT-like) effects with one or more transparent windows are achieved due to dense mode families and tunable resonant frequencies. The experimental results can be well-fitted by the coupled mode theory. An automatically adjustable EIT-like effect is discovered by immersing the sensing region of the SNAP microresonator into an aqueous environment. The sharp lineshape and high slope of the transparent window allow us to achieve a liquid refractive index sensitivity of 2058.8 pm/RIU. Furthermore, we investigated a displacement sensing phenomenon by monitoring changes in the slope of the transparent window. We believe that the above results pave the way for multi-channel all-optical switching devices, multi-channel optical communications, and biochemical sensing processing.

Angled fiber-coupled mgf[formula omitted] microcavities for nonlinear optics in 1.5 and [formula omitted] bands

A versatile angled fiber coupling platform for magnesium fluoride whispering gallery mode resonators is used to investigate nonlinear frequency conversion across 1.5 and 2 μm bands. We characterize MgF2 microcavities of varying sizes (4.3 mm, 1.9 mm, and 0.73 mm in diameter), achieving quality factors up to 2×109 at 1.55μm and 5×108 at 1.94μm. In the telecom regime, we observe rich nonlinear phenomena including Kerr comb generation, Brillouin lasing, and Raman lasing. Extending to the 2 μm band, we demonstrate four-wave mixing in a sub-millimeter cavity, highlighting the platform’s potential for the 2 μm band mid-infrared nonlinear optics.

Low-threshold limaçon-shaped micro-cavity semiconductor lasers with an approximate ring-shaped top contact

Based on the whispering gallery mode (WGM) characteristics in the limaçon-shaped micro-cavity, we designed a micro-cavity laser with an approximate ring-shaped top electrical contact, which theoretically realized the annular current injection and low temperature rise features in the active gain region. Then we fabricated micro-cavity lasers with approximate ring-shaped top contact at different ring widths and compared them with conventional full disk-shaped top contact lasers, and observed a lower operating injection threshold current as a consequence of this relatively straightforward and feasible technique. The threshold current density of the approximate ring-shaped top contact laser is ∼0.41 kA/cm2, which is 16% lower than that of the conventional laser. Furthermore, we obtain a maximum light output peak power of 133 mW with directional emission at a far-field divergence angle of ∼38° at a full width of half maximum (FWHM).

Formation of quasi-bound states in the continuum in a single deformed microcavity

Bound states in the continuum (BICs) hold significant promise in manipulating electromagnetic fields and reducing losses in optical structures, leading to advancements in fundamental research and practical applications. Despite their observation in various optical systems, the behavior of BIC in whispering-gallery-modes (WGMs) optical microcavities, essential components of photonic integrated chips, has yet to be thoroughly explored. In this study, we propose and experimentally identify a robust mechanism for generating quasi-BIC in a single deformed microcavity. By introducing boundary deformations, we construct stable unidirectional radiation channels as leaking continuum shared by different resonant modes and experimentally verify their external strong mode coupling. This results in drastically suppressed leaking loss of one originally long-lived resonance, manifested as more than a threefold enhancement of its quality (Q) factor, while the other short-lived resonance becomes more lossy, demonstrating the formation of Friedrich–Wintgen quasi-BICs as corroborated by the theoretical model and experimental data. This research will provide a practical approach to enhance the Q-factor of optical microcavities, opening up potential applications in the area of deformed microcavities, nonlinear optics, quantum optics, and integrated photonics.

Dynamic process of soliton generation in CaF₂ crystalline whispering gallery mode resonators with negative TO effects

Dynamic process of soliton generation in CaF₂ crystalline whispering gallery mode resonators with negative TO effects

Silicon double-disk optomechanical resonators from wafer-scale double-layered silicon-on-insulator

Whispering Gallery Mode (WGM) optomechanical resonators are a promising technology for the simultaneous control and measurement of optical and mechanical degrees of freedom at the nanoscale. They offer potential for use across a wide range of applications such as sensors and quantum transducers. Double-disk WGM resonators, which host strongly interacting mechanical and optical modes co-localized around their circumference, are particularly attractive due to their high optomechanical coupling. Large-scale integrated fabrication of silicon double-disk WGM resonators has not previously been demonstrated. In this work, we present a process for the fabrication of double-layer silicon-on-insulator wafers, which we then use to fabricate functional optomechanical double silicon disk resonators with on-chip optical coupling. The integrated devices present experimentally observed optical quality factors of the order of 105 and a single-photon optomechanical coupling of approximately 15 kHz.

Robustly packaged lithium niobate resonator-based temperature sensor

Abstract Whispering gallery mode (WGM) resonators with high optical quality factor (Q) are highly sensitive to environment changes and are used in various sensing applications. We have developed a high-precision temperature sensor using a compactly packaged lithium niobate (LN) WGM resonator. This sensor offers a sensitivity of 34.38pm/℃ and a high resolution of up to 5.6×10-4 ℃. It is portable with high Q, making it suitable for using outside the laboratory. The device is also resilient to changes in humidity, enhancing its practicality.

A Spectral Cleaning Method of Whispering Gallery Modes Resonance in the Microsphere Resonator

A Spectral Cleaning Method of Whispering Gallery Modes Resonance in the Microsphere Resonator

Modern developments in lasing with liquid crystals

A review of the recent developments in the field of lasing with liquid crystals (LCs) is presented. After an introduction into the principle of lasing the different relevant liquid crystal phases to the field are introduced, namely, the nematic and chiral nematic phase, Blue Phases, twist grain boundary and ferroelectric liquid crystals. The classic examples of liquid crystal lasing are shortly discussed, together with a variety of possibilities for tuning the lasing wavelength, before the modern trends in LC lasing are discussed in detail. These are particularly random lasers, where the effects of nanoparticles, quantum dots and solitons are highlighted, as well as localized surface plasmon resonance. Other modern laser systems that have attracted recent interest, white lasers, whispering gallery mode lasers and those with biological materials, for example, cellulose nanocrystals, are also introduced and the latest developments outlined.

Precision multi-mode microwave spectroscopy of paramagnetic and rare-earth ion spin defects in single crystal calcium tungstate

We present experimental observations of dilute ion spin ensemble defects in a low-loss single crystal cylindrical sample of CaWO4 cooled to 30 mK in temperature. Crystal field perturbations were elucidated by constructing a dielectrically loaded microwave cavity resonator from the crystal. The resonator exhibited numerous whispering gallery modes with high Q-factors of up to 3×107, equivalent to a loss tangent of ∼3×10−8. The low loss allowed precision multi-mode spectroscopy of numerous high Q-factor photon–spin interactions. Measurements between 7 and 22 GHz revealed the presence of Gd3+, Fe3+, and another trace species, inferred to be rare-earth, at concentrations on the order of parts per billion. These findings motivate further exploration of prospective uses of this low-loss dielectric material for applications regarding precision and quantum metrology, as well as tests for beyond standard model physics.