Coupled disk microresonators

The eigenstates of fused silica coupled disk microresonators of different configuration are investigated. The optical field distributions of the coupled disks are measured using a special scattering SNOM technique correlating the position of the tip with reflection from the excited mode. A detailed spatial and spectral analysis provides picture of evolution of the mode distribution in coupled disk microresonators when scanning through the split resonances of the coupled disk system. Applying optical pump powers in the very low milliwatt range, strong temperature induced nonlinear resonance shift of the coupled disk eigenstates is observed, leading to optical bistability. The observed effects are in agreement with simulations using a theoretical model within the scope of nonlinear coupled mode theory.