Optical microresonator

Abstract

An optical device and a sensor system incorporating same are disclosed. The optical device includes a microresonator that has a core with input and output ports. The output port is different than the input port. The optical device further includes first and second optical waveguides. Each optical waveguide has a core with input and output faces. The output face of the core of the first optical waveguide physically contacts the input port of the core of the microresonator. The input face of the core of the second optical waveguide physically contacts the output port of the core of the microresonator.

1 . An optical device comprising:
 a microresonator having a circular symmetry, the microresonator having a core; and   an optical waveguide having a core, the waveguide core terminating at the core of the microresonator.   
     
     
         2 . The optical device of  claim 1 , wherein the microresonator is a disc. 
     
     
         3 . A sensor comprising:
 the optical device of  claim 1 ; and   a light source and a detector each capable of optically communicating with the optical waveguide.   
     
     
         4 . The optical device of  claim 3 , wherein the light source is a broadband light source. 
     
     
         5 . The optical device of  claim 3 , wherein the detector is a broadband detector. 
     
     
         6 . The optical device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the microresonator is capable of supporting first and second guided optical modes, the second guided optical mode being different than the first guided optical mode, and wherein   the optical waveguide is positioned so that light propagating along a first direction in the optical waveguide is capable of coupling primarily to the first but not the second guided optical mode of the microresonator, and light propagating along a second direction opposite to the first direction in the optical waveguide is capable of coupling primarily to the second but not the first guided optical mode of the microresonator.   
     
     
         7 . The optical device of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the first and second guided optical modes is capable of propagating within the microresonator while maintaining a same electric field profile.