Optical-axis perturbation singularity in an out-of-plane ring resonator

Area of Science:

• Optical physics
• Laser engineering
• Resonator design

Background:

• Ring resonators are crucial optical cavities.
• Out-of-plane resonators offer unique properties.
• Understanding their stability and sensitivity is vital for laser applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the optical-axis perturbation sensitivity of an out-of-plane stable ring resonator.
• To investigate the impact of design parameters on resonator stability.
• To identify abnormal behaviors in resonator performance.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a matrix approach for analysis.
• Investigated optical-axis perturbation sensitivity.
• Analyzed resonator behavior concerning design parameters and mirror radius.

Main Results:

• Identified a singularity in perturbation sensitivity for specific design parameters.
• Observed abnormal cavity behavior on one side of the singularity.
• Found that increased mirror radius led to larger mode volume but decreased perturbation sensitivity, contrary to conventional resonators.

Conclusions:

• The findings are significant for designing stable and sensitive out-of-plane ring lasers.
• The discovered abnormal behavior challenges conventional understanding of resonator optics.
• Highlights the need for careful consideration of design parameters in advanced optical cavities.