High-Q optical resonators and method of making the same

摘要

An optical resonator made from an elongated fiber having a proximal and distal end. A sphere is created on the distal end by locating the distal end in cylindrically symmetrical heating zone along a centerline. For some embodiments, the distal end is rapidly cooled by allowing it to retract away from the heating zone along the centerline during the formation and solidification of the molten microsphere. The resulting optical resonator has an intrinsic quality factor greater than 106 over the 2.0 to 3.2 μm MIR wavelength range.

主权项

1. A method of fabricating an optical resonator from a glass fiber having a distal end and a proximal end comprising:
creating a nearly symmetrical heating zone; locating the proximal end of the glass fiber in said heating zone along a centerline of the heating zone; and heating said proximal end by nearly symmetrical heating into a molten state to form a spherical end and cooling said spherical end by nearly symmetrical cooling by securing said distal end of said glass fiber a spaced distance from said heating zone on said centerline so that said spherical end is withdrawn along said centerline when said glass fiber shortens as a result of the cooling of said fiber.