Kilohertz optical resonances in dielectric crystal cavities
Abstract
We experimentally demonstrate a crystalline CaF2 optical whispering gallery mode resonator characterized by the quality factor Q>2×1010 at λ=1.319μm . We also report the demonstration of ultrahigh- Q resonators of lithium niobate and lithium tantalate (Q>2×108) , and sapphire (Q>109) . We discuss fundamental limits of the Q factor, and application of such resonators for measurement of ultrasmall optical losses in various materials. We further analyze the observation of thermo-optical instability in whispering gallery modes of crystalline resonators.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review A
- Pub Date:
- November 2004
- DOI:
- Bibcode:
- 2004PhRvA..70e1804S
- Keywords:
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- 42.60.Da;
- 42.70.Mp;
- 42.65.Sf;
- 42.79.Vb;
- Resonators cavities amplifiers arrays and rings;
- Nonlinear optical crystals;
- Dynamics of nonlinear optical systems;
- optical instabilities optical chaos and complexity and optical spatio-temporal dynamics;
- Optical storage systems optical disks