Abstract
We report microsphere resonators fabricated with a gallium germanium antimony sulfide (2S2G) chalcogenide glass and demonstrate whispering gallery modes (WGMs) in the wavelength range of 1.65-2 mu m. Typical quality factors (Q factors) measured with 2S2G microspheres fabricated in our lab are approximately 6 x 10(4). Compared with other chalcogenide glasses used in microsphere resonators, this 2S2G glass has a lower melting temperature and a higher characteristic temperature, and therefore, the fabrication temperature in the sphere-forming process can be reduced and the crystallization problem can be mitigated. We also demonstrate apparent shifts of resonant peaks in the measured WGMs as the environmental temperature varies, implying that these 2S2G microspheres can be used as compact temperature sensors. The thermal sensitivity measured with a 108.52-mu m-diameter 2S2G microsphere is 28 pm/degrees C.