Pigtailing the high-Q microsphere cavity:?a simple fiber coupler for optical whispering-gallery modes

• DOI: 10.1364/ol.24.000723
• Publication Date: 2008-05-07T18:38:53Z
• Authors: Vladimir S. Ilchenko; X. Steve Yao; Lute Maleki
• Keywords: Q factor; Mode volume

We demonstrate a simple method for efficient coupling of standard single-mode optical fibers to high-Q microsphere cavity. Phase-matched excitation whispering-gallery modes is provided by an angle-polished fiber tip in which the core-guided wave undergoes total internal reflection. In experimental setup, included with both input and output coupler, fiber-to-fiber transmission at resonance reached 23% (total insertion loss, 6.3??dB), loaded quality factor Q?3×107 unloaded Q?1.2×108 1550??nm. A pigtailing microspheres permits their wider use optics photonics devices.