Bottle Micro-Resonator Engineering with Surface Nanoscale Axial Photonics

Abstract

Whispering gallery mode (WGM) micro-resonators have attracted significant attention
in recent years due to their diverse applications in sensing, optical communications, and frequency comb generation. The Surface Nanoscale Axial Photonics (SNAP) platform has risen as a notable technique for creating photonic structures with ultra-low loss, characterized by extraordinary precision to the tune of 0.1 angstroms. This thesis presents two novel and complementary approaches for fabricating WGM-based bottle micro-resonators.

The first approach involves a permanent deformation method, wherein SNAP microresonators are fabricated using a heat treatment process with a butane flame. The second approach introduces a reversible deformation technique based on elastic bending, offering tunability and adaptability for various applications. The non-disruptive nature of this second method allows for its integration with other fabrication techniques. Both methods provide angstrom-precise control over fabrication, resulting in stable and high quality bottle resonators.

We thoroughly investigate and experimentally validate these fabrication approaches,
demonstrating high fabrication precision and quality factors. A comparison of the
advantages and limitations of each method contributes to a deeper understanding of
SNAP-based micro-resonator fabrication and paves the way for future advancements in
the rapidly evolving field of photonics.

Date of Award	Nov 2023
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Aston University
Supervisor	Misha Sumetsky (Supervisor) & Sergey Sergeyev (Supervisor)