Abstract

The loss of high-Q whispering-gallery modes (WGMs) with lower azimuthal mode number $[m\sim (9–12)]$ in a circular cavity have been analyzed by using a two-dimensional finite-difference time domain method (2D FDTD) method employing Cartesian gridding and staircase approximation. The FDTD simulated Q-factors of these WGMs are generally lower than those of theoretical expectations. The variations of FDTD simulated Q-factors with spatial-calculation step size indicate that the FDTD results do not simply approximate to their theoretical expectation but jump unstably under the expectation. A loss estimation method similar to volume current method (VCM) is developed to explain the FDTD results and instability. This method calculates the “incoherent” scattering field of a scattering source under influence of cavity. Theoretical results coincident with the FDTD simulation are obtained, especially for transverse magnetic modes. As based on the developed method, the energy loss is affected by only a few harmonics of boundary fluctuation that cause the FDTD loss instability.

© 2009 Optical Society of America

Design of quantum cascade microcavity lasers based on Q factor versus etching depth

Jing Li, Yue-De Yang, and Yong-Zhen Huang
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 26(8) 1484-1491 (2009)

Accurately calculating high quality factor of whispering-gallery modes with boundary element method

Chang-Ling Zou, Yong Yang, Yun-Feng Xiao, Chun-Hua Dong, Zheng-Fu Han, and Guang-Can Guo
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 26(11) 2050-2053 (2009)

Simulation of whispering gallery modes in the Mie regime using the nonstandard finite-difference time domain algorithm

Naoki Okada and James B. Cole
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 27(4) 631-639 (2010)

High-Q whispering gallery modes of doped and coated single microspheres and their effect on radiative rate

Venkata Ramanaiah Dantham and Prem Ballabh Bisht
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 26(2) 290-300 (2009)

Label-free, single-object sensing with a microring resonator: FDTD simulation

Dan T. Nguyen and Robert A. Norwood
Opt. Express 21(1) 49-59 (2013)