Morphology-dependent resonances of optical microsphere resonators for the realization of passive wavelength-division multiplexing components

Morphology-dependent resonances of microspheres can provide the necessary optical feedback for applications in spectroscopy, laser science, and optical communications. The elastic scattering of focused light from dielectric microspheres is understood by the localization principle and the generalized Lorenz-Mie theory. We excited the morphology-dependent resonances of glass microspheres by a tunable distributed-feedback laser and detected the elastically scattered signal. Efficient coupling to morphology-dependent resonances is achieved using an optical fiber half coupler. Resonance peaks in the elastic scattering spectra and associated dips in the transmission spectra are observed experimentally. Simulation results of elastic scattering spectra of glass microspheres in the C-band are presented. (C) 2004 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers.