Asymmetric resonant optical cavity apparatus

摘要

An asymmetric resonant optical cavity is constructed of an optically transmissive dielectric material having an index of refraction n. The cavity is configured as an oval cross-section of area A, having major and minor axes. An optical input couples an optical signal of wavelength lambda into the cavity. An output coupler is positioned in a near-field region of a surface point of the cavity, thereby enabling coupling thereinto of optical energy of wavelength lambda . The surface point on the cavity is determined by a minimum value of an expression which relates the Sin of the angle of incidence, at an angle phi , to the curvature of the outer surface of the cavity. Further, the index of refraction n of the cavity's dielectric is chosen so as to avoid emission of physically separated beams at the point of exit of a beam.