Flow sensor using a hollow whispering gallery mode microlaser

Jonathan M. Ward; Yong Yang; Síle Nic Chormaic

doi:10.1117/12.2209205

22 April 2016 Flow sensor using a hollow whispering gallery mode microlaser

Jonathan M. Ward, Yong Yang, Síle Nic Chormaic

Proceedings Volume 9727, Laser Resonators, Microresonators, and Beam Control XVIII; 972718 (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2209205
Event: SPIE LASE, 2016, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

Flow sensing using the concept of a hot whispering gallery microlaser is presented. Silica microcapillaries or microbubbles, coated with a layer of erbium:ytterbium (Er:Yb) doped phosphate laser glass, result in a hollow, microbottle-shaped laser geometry. The Er:Yb doped glass outer layer is pumped at 980 nm via a tapered optical fiber and whispering gallery mode (WGM) lasing is recorded at 1535 nm. When gas passes through the capillary, the WGMs shift toward shorter wavelengths due to the cooling effect of the fluid flow. In this way, thermal tuning of the lasing modes over 70 GHz can be achieved. The output end of the capillary is connected to a mass flow sensor and the WGM shift rate as a function of flow rate and pump laser power is measured, with the results fitted using hot wire anemometry theory. Flow sensing can also be realized when the cavity is passively probed at 780 nm, with the estimated Q-factor of the WGMs being in excess of 10⁵.

Citation Download Citation

Jonathan M. Ward, Yong Yang, and Síle Nic Chormaic "Flow sensor using a hollow whispering gallery mode microlaser", Proc. SPIE 9727, Laser Resonators, Microresonators, and Beam Control XVIII, 972718 (22 April 2016); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2209205

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available