Thermal drift calibrated microcavities and systems using optical frequency domain reflectometry

A data processing system having one or more processors, a memory, and a storage device in communication with the one or more processors, wherein the one or more processors is configured to execute instructions stored in the memory and the storage device to perform a method for determining at least one physical property of a particle in contact with an optical resonator, the method comprising:

• receiving, by the one or more processors, temperature calibration data from said storage device, for at least a single-mode optical fiber and said optical resonator, said single-mode optical fiber being disposed in proximity of said optical resonator, said single-mode optical fiber being optically coupled to an optical coupler arranged to receive sensor light from a sensor optical source, said optical resonator having an optical whispering-gallery mode and being optically coupled to said single-mode optical fiber through an evanescent field to excite said optical whispering-gallery mode and to receive optical whispering-gallery output light;
• receiving, by the one or more processors, sensor signals from a sensor detection system arranged to receive and detect said optical whispering-gallery output light from said single-mode optical fiber;
• receiving, by the one or more processors, temperature-correction signals from a temperature-correcting optical system arranged to couple temperature-correcting light into said optical coupler to thereby be coupled into said single-mode optical fiber and further arranged to receive return light from said optical coupler comprising temperature-correcting light being at least one of scattered or reflected back to said temperature-correcting optical system, said temperature-correcting optical system being further configured to provide a reference beam of light to be combined at least partially coherently with said return light to provide an interference light, said temperature-correcting optical system further comprising a detector system arranged to detect said interference light to provide said temperature-correction signals;
• determining, by the one or more processors, at least one physical property of the particle in contact with said optical resonator using said sensor signals;
• and
• correcting said at least one physical property in temperature using said temperature calibration data and said temperature-correction signals.

A method for determining at least one physical property of a particle in contact with an optical resonator, the method comprising:

• receiving, by one or more computer processors, temperature calibration data from a storage device, for at least a single-mode optical fiber and said optical resonator, said single-mode optical fiber being disposed in proximity of said optical resonator, said single-mode optical fiber being optically coupled to an optical coupler arranged to receive sensor light from a sensor optical source, said optical resonator having an optical whispering-gallery mode and being optically coupled to said single-mode optical fiber through an evanescent field to excite said optical whispering-gallery mode and to receive optical whispering-gallery output light;
• receiving, by the one or more computer processors, sensor signals from a sensor detection system arranged to receive and detect said optical whispering-gallery output light from said single-mode optical fiber;
• receiving, by the one or more computer processors, temperature-correction signals from a temperature-correcting optical system arranged to couple temperature-correcting light into said optical coupler to thereby be coupled into said single-mode optical fiber and further arranged to receive return light from said optical coupler comprising temperature-correcting light being at least one of scattered or reflected back to said temperature-correcting optical system, said temperature-correcting optical system being further configured to provide a reference beam of light to be combined at least partially coherently with said return light to provide an interference light, said temperature-correcting optical system further comprising a detector system arranged to detect said interference light to provide said temperature-correction signals;
• determining, by the one or more computer processors, at least one physical property of the particle in contact with said optical resonator using said sensor signals;
• and
• correcting said at least one physical property in temperature using said temperature calibration data and said temperature-correction signals.

A software program comprising a set of instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the instructions when executed by one or more computer processors cause the one or more computer processors to perform a method for determining at least one physical property of a particle in contact with an optical resonator, the method comprising:

• receiving, by the one or more computer processors, temperature calibration data from a storage device, for at least a single-mode optical fiber and said optical resonator, said single-mode optical fiber being disposed in proximity of said optical resonator, said single-mode optical fiber being optically coupled to an optical coupler arranged to receive sensor light from a sensor optical source, said optical resonator having an optical whispering-gallery mode and being optically coupled to said single-mode optical fiber through an evanescent field to excite said optical whispering-gallery mode and to receive optical whispering-gallery output light;
• receiving, by the one or more computer processors, sensor signals from a sensor detection system arranged to receive and detect said optical whispering-gallery output light from said single-mode optical fiber;
• receiving, by the one or more computer processors, temperature-correction signals from a temperature-correcting optical system arranged to couple temperature-correcting light into said optical coupler to thereby be coupled into said single-mode optical fiber and further arranged to receive return light from said optical coupler comprising temperature-correcting light being at least one of scattered or reflected back to said temperature-correcting optical system, said temperature-correcting optical system being further configured to provide a reference beam of light to be combined at least partially coherently with said return light to provide an interference light, said temperature-correcting optical system further comprising a detector system arranged to detect said interference light to provide said temperature-correction signals;
• determining, by the one or more computer processors, at least one physical property of the particle in contact with said optical resonator using said sensor signals;
• and
• correcting said at least one physical property in temperature using said temperature calibration data and said temperature-correction signals.