Analysis of whispering gallery mode resonators by using airy functions

Abstract

In this paper, airy functions to represent Bessel functions of large index order are applied. The eigenvalue wave equation is then reduced to a polynomial equation. The complex roots of such a polynomial are the sought whispering gallery modes (WGM) resonant frequencies which in effect, provide the Q-factors and determine the WGM field profiles. Particular emphasis has been given to deriving the spectral and spatial distribution of WGMs, along the Q-factors of the resonators. These properties are essential to characterise circular semiconductor lasers, which use WGMs as modal emission.