THz Pyro-Optical Detector Based on LiNbO₃ Whispering Gallery Mode Microdisc Resonator

Sensors (Basel). 2017 Jan 28;17(2):258. doi: 10.3390/s17020258.

Abstract

This study analyzes the capabilities of a LiNbO₃ whispering gallery mode microdisc resonator as a potential bolometer detector in the THz range. The resonator is theoretically characterized in the stationary regime by its thermo-optic and thermal coefficients. Considering a Q-factor of 10⁷, a minimum detectable power of 20 μW was evaluated, three orders of magnitude above its noise equivalent power. This value opens up the feasibility of exploiting LiNbO₃ disc resonators as sensitive room-temperature detectors in the THz range.

Keywords: LiNbO3; THz; WGM; bolometer; microdisc.