Inferring periodic orbits from spectra of simple shaped micro-lasers

Mélanie Lebental 1, 2, Nadia Djellali 1, Carole Arnaud 1, Jean-Sébastien Lauret 1, Joseph Zyss 1, R. Dubertrand 2, C. Schmit 2, E. Bogomolny 2

Physical Review A: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics 76 (2007) 023830

Dielectric micro-cavities are widely used as laser resonators and characterizations of their spectra are of interest for various applications. We experimentally investigate micro-lasers of simple shapes (Fabry-Perot, square, pentagon, and disk). Their lasing spectra consist mainly of almost equidistant peaks and the distance between peaks reveals the length of a quantized periodic orbit. To measure this length with a good precision, it is necessary to take into account different sources of refractive index dispersion. Our experimental and numerical results agree with the superscar model describing the formation of long-lived states in polygonal cavities. The limitations of the two-dimensional approximation are briefly discussed in connection with micro-disks.

  • 1. Laboratoire de Photonique Quantique et Moléculaire (LPQM),
    CNRS : UMR8537 – École normale supérieure de Cachan – ENS Cachan
  • 2. Laboratoire de Physique Théorique et Modèles Statistiques (LPTMS),
    CNRS : UMR8626 – Université Paris XI – Paris Sud
Retour en haut