Tunable photon lifetime in photonic molecules: a concept for delaying an optical signal

Abstract

We experimentally and theoretically studied the photon lifetime spectral distribution in two coherently coupled spherical microcavities of $3–16\mu \mathrm{m}$ diameter forming a photonic molecule, which shows a multipeak narrowband modal structure resulting from lifting of the mode degeneracy with respect to the azimuthal quantum number. The results demonstrate the feasibility of photonic molecules as a basis for a multichannel, wavelength-tunable optical delay-line device, which can be used for delay times in the range $10\mathrm{ps}\text{to}1\mathrm{ns}$.

© 2005 Optical Society of America

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