Optical microcavity characterization via resonance spectra and modes

Physical Review A, vol. 112

Abstract

This paper describes how resonance spectra and mode profiles can be used to characterize and quantify the mode-shaping effects in open-access plano-concave optical microcavities. The presented semi-analytic theory is based on the application of perturbation theory to the round-trip evolution of the optical field. It includes various mirror-shape and nonparaxial effects and extends the nonparaxial theory presented in [Exter , ] and verified in [Koks , ] to the common case of an anisotropic Gaussian mirror. The presented measurements and analyses of resonance spectra and mode profiles demonstrate how the different mode-shaping effects can be individually distinguished and quantified. Spin-orbit coupling, which is one of the nonparaxial effects, is prominently visible in the intriguing polarization patterns of the resonant modes, while polarization tomography yields the shape-induced birefringence and associated polarization splitting of the fundamental modes.

Authors 8

1. Chunjiang He Aachen

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Leiden University

2. C. Koks Aachen

   Leiden University · Technical University of Denmark

   Affiliation as printed

   Leiden University

   Technical University of Denmark

3. Rudi van Velzen Aachen

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Leiden University

4. Andrea Corazza

   University of Basel

   Affiliation as printed

   Basel University

5. Yannik Fontana

   University of Basel

   Affiliation as printed

   Basel University

6. Marcel Erbe

   University of Basel

   Affiliation as printed

   Basel University

7. Richard John Warburton

   University of Basel

   Affiliation as printed

   Basel University

8. Martin van Exter Aachen

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Leiden University