Dielectric microcavities are widely used as laser resonators and characterizations of their spectra are of interest for various applications. We experimentally investigate microlasers of simple shapes (Fabry-Perot, square, pentagon, and disk). Their lasing spectra consist mainly of almost equidistant peaks and the distance between peaks reveals the length of a quantized periodic orbit. To measure this length with a good precision, it is necessary to take into account different sources of refractive index dispersion. Our experimental and numerical results agree with the superscar model describing the formation of long-lived states in polygonal cavities. The limitations of the two-dimensional approximation are briefly discussed in connection with microdisks.

• Received 3 April 2007

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.76.023830