Dispersion analysis of whispering gallery mode microbubble resonators

Area of Science:

• Nonlinear Optics
• Materials Science
• Optical Engineering

Background:

• Whispering gallery mode resonators are crucial for nonlinear optical applications.
• Silica-based resonators have limitations in dispersion tunability for specific applications.
• Non-silica materials offer potential for enhanced nonlinear properties and broader spectral applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate dispersion engineering in non-silica whispering gallery mode microbubble resonators.
• To analyze the tunability of the zero dispersion wavelength (ZDW) by varying microbubble parameters.
• To explore the potential of these resonators for optical frequency comb generation.

Main Methods:

• Theoretical analysis of the zero dispersion wavelength as a function of microbubble diameter and wall thickness.
• Consideration of various material groups including highly-nonlinear soft glasses, polymers, and crystalline materials.
• Modeling dispersion characteristics for different material compositions and geometric configurations.

Main Results:

• The zero dispersion wavelength is demonstrated to be highly tunable by altering the microbubble shell thickness.
• Dispersion equalization is achievable at wavelengths in the visible and mid-infrared regions using specific materials.
• Significant opportunities exist for engineering dispersion in non-silica microbubble resonators.

Conclusions:

• Non-silica microbubble resonators offer a promising platform for advanced nonlinear optical applications.
• The ability to tune dispersion opens new avenues for generating optical frequency combs.
• This work provides the first comprehensive analysis of non-silica microbubbles for nonlinear optics.