Whispering gallery modes in highly hexagonal symmetric structures of SBA-1 mesoporous silica

An interesting optical resonant mode, called whispering gallery mode (WGM), has been discovered inside the highly hexagonal three dimensional symmetry of SBA-1 mesoporous silica. The hexagonal structure provides a suitable environment for the light wave to circulate around due to multiple total internal reflections at the resonator’s boundary and generates the resonant states. Based on the hexagonal total internal reflecting model, the observed eigenmodes can be explained quite well. The authors also discovered that under the condition of WGMs, the absorption of CO2 and H2O molecules can be greatly enhanced.