Surface and internal scattering in microspheres: limits imposed on the Q-factor and mode splitting

Abstract

Accurate calculation of internal and surface scattering losses in fused silica microspheres is done. We show that in microspheres internal scattering is partly inhibited as compared to losses in the bulk material. We pay attention on the effect of frozen thermodynamical capillary waves on surface roughness. We calculate also the value of mode splitting due to backscattering and other effects of this backscattering.