Ultrasensitive thermal sensors based on whispering gallery modes in a polymer core optical ring resonator

Nai Lin, Lan Jiang, Sumei Wang, Hai Xiao, Yongfeng Lu, Hailung Tsai

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study proposes a thermal sensor based on whispering gallery modes (WGMs) in a polymer core optical ring resonator (PCORR). The thermal sensitivity and detection limit (i.e., the temperature resolution) for WGMs of various orders and polarizations are theoretically studied as a function of the ring wall thickness. The results show that the temperature detection limits can be as low as 4 × 10-5 and 6 × 10-6 K for laser linewidths of 2 and 0.3 MHz, respectively. The ultrahigh temperature resolution makes the PCORR a very promising platform for temperature measurement. The analysis also shows that the WGM of a lower order has better thermal sensing performance and a thinner optimal thickness of the ring resonator.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)6254-6260
Number of pages7
JournalApplied optics
Volume50
Issue number33
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 20 2011

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
  • Engineering (miscellaneous)
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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