Detecting light in whispering-gallery-mode resonators
First Claim
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1. An optical device, comprising:
- a whispering gallery mode (WGM) optical resonator configured to support one or more whispering gallery modes;
a photodetector optically coupled to an exterior surface of the optical resonator to receive evanescent light from the optical resonator to detect light inside the optical resonator; and
a spacer comprising a transparent material positioned between the photodetector and the exterior surface of the optical resonator, wherein the spacer is in direct physical contact with the exterior surface of the optical resonator and the photodetector.
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Abstract
An optical device including a whispering gallery mode (WGM) optical resonator configured to support one or more whispering gallery modes; and a photodetector optically coupled to an exterior surface of the optical resonator to receive evanescent light from the optical resonator to detect light inside the optical resonator.
106 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An optical device, comprising:
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a whispering gallery mode (WGM) optical resonator configured to support one or more whispering gallery modes; a photodetector optically coupled to an exterior surface of the optical resonator to receive evanescent light from the optical resonator to detect light inside the optical resonator; and a spacer comprising a transparent material positioned between the photodetector and the exterior surface of the optical resonator, wherein the spacer is in direct physical contact with the exterior surface of the optical resonator and the photodetector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18)
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15. A device, comprising:
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first and second optical resonators each configured to support whispering gallery modes, wherein the first and said second optical resonators are optically coupled to each other to allow for light coupling from a first whispering gallery mode in the first optical resonator to a second whispering gallery mode in the second optical resonator; a first photodetector optically coupled to the first optical resonator to detect light in the first optical resonator; a first spacer comprising a transparent material positioned between the first photodetector and an exterior surface of the first optical resonator, wherein the first spacer is in direct physical contact with the exterior surface of the first optical resonator and the first photodetector; a second photodetector optically coupled to the second optical resonator to detect light in the second optical resonator; and a second spacer comprising a transparent material positioned between the second photodetector and an exterior surface of the second optical resonator, wherein the second spacer is in direct physical contact with the exterior surface of the second optical resonator and the second photodetector. - View Dependent Claims (16, 19)
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17. A method, comprising:
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placing a photodetector near an exterior surface of a whispering gallery mode (WGM) optical resonator to optically couple the photodetector to an evanescent field of light in the optical resonator; placing a spacer comprising a transparent material positioned between the photodetector and the exterior surface of the first optical resonator, wherein the spacer is in direct physical contact with the exterior surface of the first optical resonator and the first photodetector; and using the photodetector to receive evanescent light from the optical resonator to detect light inside the optical resonator. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification