Fluoride microresonators for mid-IR applications

Abstract

We study crystalline fluoride microresonators for mid-infrared applications. Whispering gallery mode resonators were fabricated with BaF${}_2$, CaF${}_2$ and MgF${}_2$ crystals. The quality factors were measured at wavelengths of 1.56 μm and 4.58 μm. The impacts of fabrication technique, impurities, multiphonon absorption and surface water are investigated. It is found that MgF2 resonators have room temperature Q factor of $8.3\times 10^6$ at wavelength of 4.58 μm, limited by multiphonon absorption.

4 pages, 5 figures