Self-formed cavity quantum electrodynamics in coupled dipole cylindrical-waveguide systems

Abstract

An ideal optical cavity operates by confining light in all three dimensions. We show that a cylindrical waveguide can provide the longitudinal confinement required to form a two dimensional cavity, described here as a self-formed cavity, by locating a dipole, directed along the waveguide, on the interface of the waveguide. The cavity resonance modes lead to peaks in the radiation of the dipole-waveguide system that have no contribution due to the skew rays that exist in longitudinally invariant waveguides and reduce their Q-factor. Using a theoretical model, we evaluate the Q-factor and modal volume of the cavity formed by a dipole-cylindrical-waveguide system and show that such a cavity allows access to both the strong and weak coupling regimes of cavity quantum electrodynamics.