High-sensitivity optical microcavity acoustic sensor covering a free spectral range

Optical whispering gallery mode (WGM) microcavity acoustic sensors have emerged with significant potential in high-sensitivity acoustic signal detection, but the narrow dynamic range limits the application prospects. To address the challenge, we propose and experimentally demonstrate a high-sensitivity acoustic sensor in an optical WGM microcavity. The proposed sensor integrates an extended polarization Mach–Zehnder interferometer with postselection, extending the dynamic range to the free spectral range. The sensing regions can be categorized into phase-drastic and phase-enhanced regions, both of which yield an optimal acoustic response that surpasses traditional transmission methods. Experimental results in the phase-enhanced region demonstrate improvements of 57.87 dB in detection sensitivity and 26 times in minimal detectable acoustic pressure over the transmission method. Moreover, the application of coherent state and heterodyne detection can enhance response amplitude, further improving the detection sensitivity. Given the wide application range for acoustic dispersion and dissipation response, as well as the performance advantages of high sensitivity and wide dynamic range, the proposed WGM sensor offers a promising solution for acoustic sensing.