Estimation of Purcell factor from mode-splitting spectra in an optical microcavity

We investigate scattering process in an ultrahigh-Q optical microcavity coupled to subwavelength scatterers by introducing splitting quality Q{sub sp}, a dimensionless parameter defined as the ratio of the scatterer-induced mode splitting to the total loss of the coupled system. A simple relation is introduced to directly estimate the Purcell factor from single-shot measurement of transmission spectrum of scatterer-coupled cavity. Experiments with polystyrene (PS) and gold (Au) nanoparticles, erbium ions, and Influenza A virions show that Purcell-factor-enhanced preferential funneling of scattering into the cavity mode takes place regardless of the scatterer type. Experimentally determined highest Q{sub sp} for single PS and Au nanoparticles are 9.4 and 16.19 corresponding to Purcell factors with lower bounds of 353 and 1049, respectively. The highest observed Q{sub sp} was 31.2 for an ensemble of Au particles. These values are the highest Q{sub sp} and Purcell factors reported up to date.

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