Time-Domain Measurements of Light Propagation in Dielectric Spheres

There has been increasing fundamental and practical interest in the properties of dielectric microspheres in recent years. High-Q structural resonances that occur when the round trip optical path is an integral number of wavelengths can be exploited for quantum measurement and the observation of cavity QED effects. The spherical microparticle is also an important component of the earth’s atmosphere, contributing both to visual displays and global change. In this paper, we describe theoretical and experimental applications of optical pulse techniques to the characterization of dielectric spheres.