Mode Splitting Induced by Radiation Pressure in a Spherical Microcavity

In this paper, we present a novel method to reveal the azimuthal whispering gallery modes (WGMs) in a spherical microcavity. The microcavity has a soft shell on its surface which is coated with CdTe nanocrystals. The deformation of the spherical shape using radiation pressure from a laser beam causes the lifting of the degeneracy of the WGMs. The splitting can be efficiently controlled by the strength of the radiation pressure and the elastic properties of the surface shell.