Abstract

We have recently reported the use of a narrow single-mode fibre taper to excite whispering gallery modes (WGMs) in fused silica microspheres[1]. Here we demonstrate the similar excitation of WGMs in dielectric cylinders. The dielectric cylinder is itself a tapered fibre, made by stretching the fibre in a flame to give a filament of predictable diameter. The two tapers are positioned at right angles and in contact. The transmission spectrum of the "sensor" taper (measured using a tunable diode laser) has dips at wavelengths where light is coupled from its guided mode to a WGM in the "target" taper.

© 1998 IEEE