Localization of light on a cone: theoretical evidence and experimental demonstration for an optical fiber

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that a dielectric cone can act as a high Q-factor optical microresonator, confining light effectively, supported by theoretical analysis and experimental validation, offering new methods for fiber characterization and resonator design.

Contribution

It introduces a novel theoretical and experimental framework showing light localization in dielectric cones as high Q-factor resonators, expanding optical fiber analysis and resonator technology.

Findings

Dielectric cones can serve as high Q-factor optical microresonators.

Theoretical predictions align closely with experimental results.

Provides new methods for precise optical fiber characterization.

Abstract

The classical motion at a conical surface is bounded at one (narrower) side of the cone and unbounded at the other. However, it is shown here that a dielectric cone with a small half-angle gamma can perform as a high Q-factor optical microresonator which completely confines light. The theory of the discovered localized conical states is in excellent agreement with experimental data. It provides both a unique approach for extremely accurate local characterization of optical fibers (which usually have gamma ~10^-5 or less) and a new paradigm in the field of high Q-factor resonators.