Microbubble optical resonator
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An optical resonator comprising:
- a hollow optical microcapillary formed of an optically transparent material and having a predetermined wall thickness such that a material introduced into an end of the hollow optical microcapillary can flow therethrough; and
an optical microbubble formed as a cavity along the hollow optical microcapillary and having a curved outer surface sufficient to confine optically-generated whispering gallery modes (WGMs) excited therein.
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Abstract
An optical microresonator is configured as an optical microbubble formed along a section of an optical microcapillary. The curvature of the outer surface of the microbubble creates an optical resonator with a geometry that encourages the circulating WGMs to remain confined in the central region of the bubble, creating a high Q optical resonator. The resonator may be tuned by modifying the physical properties of the microbubble, allowing the resonator to be used as an optical filter. The resonator may also be used as a sensor or laser by introducing the material to be sensed (or the active laser material) into the microcapillary along which the microbubble is formed.
40 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An optical resonator comprising:
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a hollow optical microcapillary formed of an optically transparent material and having a predetermined wall thickness such that a material introduced into an end of the hollow optical microcapillary can flow therethrough; and an optical microbubble formed as a cavity along the hollow optical microcapillary and having a curved outer surface sufficient to confine optically-generated whispering gallery modes (WGMs) excited therein. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An optical device comprising:
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an optical signal path for supporting the propagation of an optical signal; an optical resonator comprising; a hollow optical microcapillary formed of an optically transparent material and having a predetermined wall thickness such that a material introduced into an end of the hollow optical microcapillary can flow therethrough; and an optical microbubble formed as a cavity along the hollow optical microcapillary and having a curved outer surface sufficient to confine optically-generated whispering gallery modes (WGMs) excited therein; and an optical coupler for providing coupling between the optical signal propagating along the optical signal path and the optical microbubble of the optical resonator. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification