Ultralow-threshold Raman laser using a spherical dielectric microcavity

被引:965
作者
Spillane, SM [1 ]
Kippenberg, TJ [1 ]
Vahala, KJ [1 ]
机构
[1] CALTECH, Dept Appl Phys, Pasadena, CA 91125 USA
基金
美国国家科学基金会;
关键词
D O I
10.1038/415621a
中图分类号
O [数理科学和化学]; P [天文学、地球科学]; Q [生物科学]; N [自然科学总论];
学科分类号
07 ; 0710 ; 09 ;
摘要
The ability to confine and store optical energy in small volumes has implications in fields ranging from cavity quantum electrodynamics to photonics. Of all cavity geometries, micrometresized dielectric spherical resonators are the best in terms of their ability to store energy for long periods of time within small volumes(1). In the sphere, light orbits near the surface, where long confinement times (high Q) effectively wrap a large interaction distance into a tiny volume. This characteristic makes such resonators uniquely suited for studies of nonlinear coupling of light with matter. Early work(2,3) recognized these attributes through Raman excitation in microdroplets-but microdroplets have not been used in practical applications. Here we demonstrate a micrometre-scale, nonlinear Raman source that has a highly efficient pump-signal conversion (higher than 35%) and pump thresholds nearly 1,000 times lower than shown before. This represents a route to compact, ultralow-threshold sources for numerous wavelength bands that are usually difficult to access. Equally important, this system can provide a compact and simple building block for studying nonlinear optical effects and the quantum aspects of light.
引用
收藏
页码:621 / 623
页数:3
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