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Thermo-optical tuning of whispering gallery modes in Er:Yb co-doped phosphate glass microspheres

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Abstract

We demonstrate an all-optical, thermally assisted technique for broad-range tuning of whispering gallery modes in microsphere resonators fabricated from an Er:Yb co-doped phosphate glass (IOG-2). The microspheres are pumped at 978 nm and the heat generated by absorption of the pump expands the cavity, thereby altering the cavity size and refractive index. We demonstrate a significant nonlinear tuning range of greater than 700 GHz of both C- and L-band cavity emissions via pumping through a tapered optical fibre. Finally, we show that large linear tuning up to ∼488 GHz is achievable if the microsphere is alternatively heated by coupling laser light into its support stem.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Physics and Instrumentation, Cork Institute of Technology, Rossa Avenue, Bishopstown, Cork, Ireland

    J. M. Ward

  2. Photonics Centre, Tyndall National Institute, Lee Maltings, Cork, Ireland

    J. M. Ward & S. N. Chormaic

  3. Physics Department, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland

    S. N. Chormaic

Authors
  1. J. M. Ward
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  2. S. N. Chormaic
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Correspondence to J. M. Ward.

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Ward, J.M., Chormaic, S.N. Thermo-optical tuning of whispering gallery modes in Er:Yb co-doped phosphate glass microspheres. Appl. Phys. B 100, 847–850 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-010-4153-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-010-4153-0

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