Whispering-gallery-mode resonator architectures and manufacturing processes
This application describes optical resonators having deposited optical material layers and optical resonators having layered structures to support whispering gallery modes.
1. A device, comprising:
a substrate material shaped to include curved surfaces to define a shape of an optical resonator which supports at least one whispering gallery mode; and
a layer of a glass material conformingly deposited on the substrate material by a vapor deposition process to conformingly cover the curved surfaces of the substrate material to form the resonator.
2. A device as in claim 1 , wherein the glass material is a OH-free glass.
3. A device as in claim 1 , wherein the glass material is SiO2.
4. A device as in claim 1 , wherein the glass material and the substrate material have matching coefficients of thermal expansion.
5. A device as in claim 1 , wherein the substrate material is a metal.
6. A device as in claim 5 , wherein the metal is an alloy.
7. A device as in claim 6 , wherein the metal is a Kovar alloy.
8. A device as in claim 5 , wherein the substrate material is shaped to have a surface roughness at the angstrom level.
9. A device as in claim 5 , wherein the substrate material is shaped by a diamond turning method.
10. A device as in claim 1 , wherein the substrate material is shaped by a diamond turning method.
11. A device as in claim 1 , wherein the substrate material is a non-glass material.
12. A device as in claim 1 , wherein the substrate material is a machinable material.
13. A device as in claim 1 , wherein the substrate material is shaped to comprise a stem and a disk connected to one end of the stem.
14. A device as in claim 1 , wherein the substrate material is shaped to comprise a disk.
15. A device as in claim 1 , wherein the substrate material has a shape other than a disk.
16. A device as in claim 1 , wherein the substrate material is shaped to comprise a whole sphere.
17. A device as in claim 1 , wherein the substrate material is shaped to comprise a portion of a whole sphere.
18. A device as in claim 1 , wherein the substrate material is shaped to comprise a non-spherical shape.
19. A device as in claim 1 , wherein the substrate material is shaped to comprise a spheriodal shape.
20. The device as in claim 1 , wherein the substrate material is shaped to comprise a ring shape.