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Back Cover: Whispering gallery modes in deformed hexagonal resonators (Phys. Status Solidi B 5/2012)
Author(s) -
Grundmann Marius,
Dietrich Christof P.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
physica status solidi (b)
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.51
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1521-3951
pISSN - 0370-1972
DOI - 10.1002/pssb.201290010
Subject(s) - whispering gallery wave , whispering gallery , resonator , optics , physics , resonance (particle physics) , materials science , rayleigh scattering , condensed matter physics , atomic physics
A hundred years ago Lord Rayleigh discussed the phenomenon of (acoustic) whispering gallery modes in St. Paul's cathedral. Today high quality optical resonators based on whispering gallery modes are an essential element in nanophotonics. Prismatic zinc oxide microwires with different polygonal circumference varying from the typically discussed regular hexagon have been investigated. Various whispering gallery modes (triangular, square and hexagonal) have been identified by their characteristic resonance spectra. Also Fabry‐Pérot modes within the wire cross‐section have been found, unambiguously distinguished by their particular angular dispersion. The bending of nanowires leads to a reduction of symmetry, evidenced by local variation of band gap, and leaves some whispering gallery modes intact. Thus the study of whispering gallery modes remains an active field with applications in nano‐ and micro‐sized optical devices lying ahead. For further details see the Feature Article by Grundmann and Dietrich on pp. 871–879 .