Method of evanescently coupling whispering gallery mode optical resonators using liquids
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
InventorsHengky Chandrahalim, Kyle T Bodily
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Abstract
The present invention relates to evanescently coupling whispering gallery mode optical resonators having a liquid coupling as well as methods of making and using same. The aforementioned evanescently coupling whispering gallery mode optical resonators having a liquid couplings provide increased tunability and sensing selectivity over current same. The aforementioned. Applicants' method of making evanescent-wave coupled optical resonators can be achieved while having coupling gap dimensions that can be fabricated using standard photolithography. Thus economic, rapid, and mass production of coupled WGM resonators-based lasers, sensors, and signal processors for a broad range of applications can be realized.
Claims19
An evanescently coupling whispering gallery mode optical resonator device having a liquid coupling comprising:
- a) a substrate having a top and a bottom side and a refractive index;
- b) two or more patterns, each pattern being separated from an adjacent pattern by a gap of about 10 nanometers to about 2 microns, and each pattern independently comprising a film having:
- a refractive index that is at least 0.01% greater than said substrate's refractive index;
- (ii) a transparency of at least 60% to light having a wavelength of 200 nm to about 2000 nm;
- c) at least one fluid host comprising at least one fluid cavity, said at least one fluid cavity comprising a ceiling and sides, said ceiling being flat, said at least one fluid cavity comprising a liquid, each fluid host having a transparency of at least 50% to light having a wavelength of 200 nm to about 2000 nm;
- and
- said liquid in said at least one fluid cavity having a transparency of at least 50% to light having a wavelength of 200 nm to about 2000 nm and a refractive index that is at least 0.01% lower than the refractive index of said film;
- at least a pair of said two or more patterns being disposed on one side of said substrate, said at least one liquid host being disposed over at least said pair of said two or more patterns such that, said liquid in the fluid cavity of said fluid host places said pair of patterns in liquid communication, said patterns being liquid coupled as a result of said liquid communication.
A process of making an evanescently coupling whispering gallery mode optical resonator device having a fluid coupling comprising taking the evanescently coupling whispering gallery mode optical resonator device that comprises:
- a) a substrate having a top and a bottom side and a refractive index;
- b) two or more patterns, each pattern being separated from an adjacent pattern by a gap of about 10 nanometers to about 2 microns and each pattern independently comprising a film having:
- (i) a refractive index that is at least 0.01% greater than the refractive index of said substrate,
- (ii) a transparency of at least 60% to light having a wavelength of 200 nm to about 2000 nm;
- c) at least one fluid host comprising at least one fluid cavity comprising a liquid, each fluid host having a transparency of at least 50% to light having a wavelength of 200 nm to about 2000 nm;
- and
- said liquid in said at least one fluid cavity having a transparency of having a transparency of at least 50% to light having a wavelength of 200 nm to about 2000 nm and a refractive index that is at least 0.01% lower than the refractive index of said film;
- at least a pair of said two or more patterns being disposed on one side of said substrate, said at least one fluid host being disposed over at least said pair of said two or more patterns;
- and
- fluid coupling said patterns by introducing into the fluid cavity of said fluid host a liquid that places all said patterns in liquid communication.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.