Combining Directional Light Output and Ultralow Loss in Deformed Microdisks

Jan Wiersig and Martina Hentschel
Phys. Rev. Lett. 100, 033901 – Published 23 January 2008

Abstract

A drawback of optical modes in microdisk cavities is their isotropic light emission. Here we report a novel, robust, and general mechanism that results in highly directional light emission from high-quality modes. This surprising finding is explained by a combination of wave phenomena (wave localization along unstable periodic ray trajectories) and chaotic ray dynamics in open systems (escape along unstable manifolds) and applies even to microlasers operating in the common multimode regime. We demonstrate our novel mechanism for the limaçon cavity and find directional emission with narrow angular divergence for a significant range of geometries and material parameters.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 27 April 2007

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.100.033901

©2008 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Jan Wiersig

  • Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität Bremen, Postfach 330 440, D-28334 Bremen, Germany

Martina Hentschel

  • Max-Planck-Institut für Physik komplexer Systeme, Nöthnitzer Straße 38, D-01187 Dresden, Germany

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 100, Iss. 3 — 25 January 2008

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review Letters

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×