Monolithic total internal reflection resonators for applications in photonics

Abstract Monolithic total internal reflection resonators confine light through traveling waves that can feature high quality factors and small mode volumes. Such resonators have emerged as rigid and compact platforms to explore high-efficiency laser-matter interactions and their related applications in photonics technology. In this review, we focus on monolithic ring resonators based on total internal reflection, with a particular emphasis on nonplanar ring oscillators and whispering-gallery mode lasers. We also discuss resonantly enhanced nonlinear photonic systems based on these resonators, using both non-centrosymmetric and centrosymmetric optical materials.