Miniature optical resonators

Optical resonators or cavities are one of the most precise tools made by human kind. By confining the electromagnetic field in space, resonators serve as frequency selective devices. Therefore, they not only enable very sensitive measurements of frequencies, but also increase light-matter coupling and nonlinear behavior by strongly amplifying field strengths. Miniaturization of resonators with optical glass fibers even enhances some of those characteristics. We fabricate these devices in our fiber lab and use them to study cavity optomechanics, nonlinear optics and light-matter interfaces.