In this study, we present an analysis of optical frequency signal transmission through the whispering gallery mode (WGM) generated in a silica microsphere for the application of optical frequency signal transmission to integrated circuits. The behavior of the WGM within a microsphere was analyzed in detail using the finite-difference time-domain method. The electric field distribution in the silica microsphere led to the WGM, and the electric field was amplified within the microsphere. The interval between the peaks of the WGM (free spectral range of the microcavity) was clearly observed in the wavelength spectrum. When two light beams having slightly different wavelengths were guided into the microsphere, a beat frequency corresponding to the difference frequency of the two light beams was also obtained in the simulation. The simulation results were experimentally confirmed by observing the WGM and the beat signal generated in a silica microsphere. From these results, we have theoretically and experimentally clarified the feasibility of optical frequency signal transmission through the WGM.

Date Published: 23 December 2011
PDF: 8 pages
Proc. SPIE 8204, Smart Nano-Micro Materials and Devices, 820433 (23 December 2011); doi: 10.1117/12.903047

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 8204:
Smart Nano-Micro Materials and Devices
Saulius Juodkazis; Min Gu, Editor(s)