Spin-orbit interaction of light in three-dimensional microcavities

We investigate the spin-orbit coupling of light in three-dimensional cylindrical and tubelike whispering gallery mode resonators. We show that its origin is the transverse confinement of light in the resonator walls, even in the absence of inhomogeneities or anisotropies. The spin-orbit interaction results in elliptical far-field polarization (spin) states and causes spatial separation of polarization handedness in the far field. The ellipticity and spatial separation are enhanced for whispering gallery modes with higher excitation numbers along the resonator height. We analyze the asymmetry of the ellipticity and the tilt of the polarization orientation in the far field of conelike microcavities. Furthermore, we find a direct relationship between the tilt of the polarization orientation in the far field and the local inclination of the resonator wall. Our findings are based on finite-difference time-domain simulations and are supported by three-dimensional diffraction theory.