Directional tunneling escape from nearly spherical optical resonators

Area of Science:

• Physics
• Optical Science
• Materials Science

Background:

• Whispering-gallery modes (WGMs) in optical resonators are crucial for various photonic applications.
• Understanding mode leakage is essential for controlling light emission and resonator performance.
• Nearly spherical resonators typically exhibit complex, nonchaotic ray dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the phenomenon of directional tunneling escape from optical resonators.
• To explore the influence of resonator deformation and excitation conditions on emission patterns.
• To elucidate the role of internal ray dynamics and phase-space structures in mode leakage.

Main Methods:

• Experimental measurements of far-field emission patterns from fused-silica optical resonators.
• Theoretical modeling of ray dynamics within the resonators.
• Analysis of the dependence of emission on resonator deformation and excitation conditions.

Main Results:

• Observation of surprising directional tunneling escape in nearly spherical fused-silica resonators.
• Demonstration that nonchaotic regular trajectories dominate the phase space.
• Identification of nonperturbative phase-space structures as key factors affecting WGM tunneling leakage.

Conclusions:

• Directional tunneling escape is a significant phenomenon in optical resonators, even those with minimal deformation.
• Internal ray dynamics and phase-space structures play a critical role in dictating the leakage of whispering-gallery modes.
• This finding has implications for the design and control of light emission in micro- and nanophotonic devices.