Fundamentals and Applications of Microsphere Resonator Circuits

Abstract

Dielectric microspheres, with sizes on the order of several wavelengths, support high-quality whispering gallery (WG) modes and provide nonresonant focusing of light into tiny spots termed nanoscale photonic jets. In this chapter, we review properties of more complicated multiple-cavity systems that are formed by microspheres assembled in chip-scale structures. The resonant optical properties of such systems can be engineered on the basis of tight-binding WG modes in photonic atoms. In practical systems of coupled cavities, the optical transport properties are strongly influenced by disorder effects, leading to scattering, localization, and percolation of light. The desirable tight-binding properties require selecting more uniform spheres, which can be achieved by novel methods based on using size-selective radiative pressure. Due to controllable dispersions for photons, collective emission and absorption, and enhanced light–matter coupling, such structures can be used for developing coupled arrays of microlasers, ultracompact high-resolution spectrometers, and sensors. The nonresonant properties of such systems are connected through subwavelength focusing of light in chains and arrays of microspheres that can be used in a variety of biomedical applications including ultraprecise laser tissue surgery.