Micro-optical force sensor concept based on whispering gallery mode resonators.
A micro-optical force sensor concept based on the morphology-dependent shifts of optical modes of dielectric microspheres is investigated. The optical resonances, commonly referred to as the whispering gallery modes (WGM), were excited by evanescently coupling light from a tunable diode laser using a tapered single-mode fiber. A compressive force applied to the sphere induces a change in both the shape and the index of refraction of the sphere leading to a shift in WGM. By tracking the shifts, the force magnitude is determined using solid silica as well as solid and hollow Polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA) microsphere resonators. A measurement sensitivity as high as dlambda/dF=7.664 nm/N was demonstrated with a 960 mum hollow PMMA sphere.
Southern Methodist University, Mechanical Engineering Department, Dallas, TX 75275, USA.
Tindaro
T
Ioppolo
Michael
M
Kozhevnikov
Vadim
V
Stepaniuk
M Volkan
MV
Otügen
Valery
V
Sheverev