title: Tunable photon lifetime in photonic molecules: a concept for delaying an optical signal.
abstract: We experimentally and theoretically studied the photon lifetime spectral distribution in two coherently coupled spherical microcavities of 3-16 microm diameter forming a photonic molecule, which shows a multipeak narrowband modal structure resulting from lifting of the mode degeneracy with respect to the azimuthal quantum number. The results demonstrate the feasibility of photonic molecules as a basis for a multichannel, wavelength-tunable optical delay-line device, which can be used for delay times in the range 10 ps to 1 ns.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Physics and Chemistry, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland. Rakovicy@tcd.ie
authors.forename: Yury P
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Rakovich
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Boland
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Donegan