High Q silica microbubble resonators fabricated by arc discharge

Microbubble resonators combine the unique properties of whispering gallery mode resonators with the intrinsic capability of integrated microfluidics. Here an improved fabrication method of microbubble resonators is presented, based on the heating of a slightly pressurized capillary by a rotating arc discharge. Rotation of the electrodes, moved out of a fiber splicer, ensures a homogeneous distribution of the heat all over the capillary surface. The demonstrated microbubble resonators have Q factors up to 6×107 at 1550nm. Microbubbles were filled with water and aqueous solutions of ethanol in order to test the refractive index sensing capabilities of such resonators, which also show a good temporal stability. The limit of detection of our microbubble resonator sensor is 10-6 RIU.