Crystalline cavities for quantum and nonlinear optics

In this paper, we show that the spontaneous Raman scattering is primarily responsible for the attenuation in an ideal crystal at low temperatures. Applying this result to the crystalline whispering gallery mode (WGM) resonators we find the limits to the quality factor. We also show that, in contrast to the low temperature regime, spontaneous Brillouin scattering as well as stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) determine the Q factor of a WGM resonator under realistic experimental conditions at room temperature.