Ray dynamics of whispering-gallery modes in curved space

Abstract: Microcavities supporting Whispering-gallery modes (WGMs) are of great significance for on-chip optical information processing, which is frequently analyzed using ray dynamics that conventionally involves straight light trajectories in flat space. We develop a novel mathematical model of ray dynamics that allows investigating photon movement in WGM-microcavities defined on curved surfaces, which consists of curved or twisted light trajectories following the geodesic lines of the space. We show that the resulting ray dynamics differs dramatically from those in flat microcavities, and in various manners depending on whether the curved surface can be unfolded to flat. Our methods suggest a redefinition of the WGM symmetry in curved space and provides a universal tool for analyzing three-dimensional (3D) photonic circuits containing curved structures with boundaries.