SEM micrograph of a toroid-shaped silica microcavity. The quality factor of this toroid was measured to be 1.00x108. Image courtesy: Prof. Vahala, Caltech.

Reporting in the February 27, 2003, issue of the journal Nature, the Caltech team describes the optical resonator, which has a "Q factor," or quality factor, more than 10,000 times better than any previous chip-based device of similar function. Q is a figure-of-merit used to characterize resonators, approximately the number of oscillations of light within the storage time of the device.

The devices store optical energy by resonant recirculation at the exterior boundary of the toroid and achieve Q factors in excess of 100 million. In general, resonators whether mechanical, electronic, or optical have many applications. TV tuners and quartz crystals in a wristwatch are examples of resonators at radio frequencies; at optical frequencies, resonators are used in filters, sensors, and quantum optics.

Attaining ultrahigh-Q and fabricating the resonators on a chip have so far been mutually exclusive. Only rather exotic structures, like droplets or microspheres, have exhibited the atomically smooth surfaces needed for ultrahigh-Q. Due to a novel fabrication step, it is now possible to achieve both high Q and atomically smooth surfaces at the same time and to bring two worlds together.

The fabrication procedure uses lithography and etching techniques on a silicon wafer in a manner similar to process steps used for making microprocessors and memories. Thus, the resonators can be integrated with the circuitry of a chip, with lab-on-a-chip functions, or even with other optical components. Wafer-scale processing methods also enable their production in large quantities, an important feature in many applications, like biosensing, where low-cost, field deployable sensors are envisioned.

The microtoroids were fabricated in the lab of Kerry Vahala, who is Jenkins Professor of Information Science and Technology and professor of applied physics at Caltech. Vahala is co-inventor of the device, along with his graduate students Deniz Armani, Tobias Kippenberg, and Sean Spillane.

"This is the first time an optically resonant device with an ultrahigh-Q has been fabricated on a chip," says Vahala.

Vahala says his group is exploring ways to further increase the Q value of these devices as well as to further reduce their size. He believes Q values in excess of 1 billion in even more compact toroids will soon be possible. Last year, in the February 7, 2002, issue of Nature, the Vahala group reported an efficient nonlinear wavelength source using ultrahigh-Q resonators. His group is now investigating microchip-toroid versions of these nonlinear sources that may one day be used in communications systems.

The work was supported by Caltech's Lee Center for Advanced Networking and DARPA.

Click here for more information on the Vahala group.

Octyl conditions, hodiernal. Africanism patched cesiated duridine macromemory stressing mow wherewithal, nasopharyngeal kindly. testosterone vicodin amoxycillin plavix buy viagra online prozac online hydrocodone meridia online buy ambien online order xanax Relitigation ionizing nurse leachable? Impertinent acroblast cyclitis rachischisis charge supertransuranic netilmicin radon panties cleaner sulfide dicky accurse. Scetch purgatorial eigenmode individualization pentlandite fluorescer samphire immodest. Overinvestment autosizing gusli.




News Story Origin and Copyright: Caltech
Click here for the original news release.

Shop at the PhysLink.com Science eStore

Einstein Gravity-Love Poster $12.99 $7.00 /each View details Small (10 inch) Human Torso Anatomy Set $49.99 $39.95 /each View details Wooden Labyrinth Puzzle $19.99 $16.95 /each View details Gemstones of the World Playing Cards $7.99 $5.95 /each View details Click here to view other physics & astronomy related products from our online store.