As the deformation of the cavity is increased, the
metastable state shifts in frequency, and its lifetime decreases. At the same time, the
emission becomes more directional.
Shown here is the wave function of a cylinder with an oscillating cross
section in the shape of a quadrupole. In the undeformed circle, the angular momentum quantum
number is 68, the wavelength in the cavity is about 14 times smaller than the radius. The index
of refraction of the cavity is 1.55 (i.e. that of glass). Classical phase space structure here
causes the emission at high deformation to violate intuitive expectations: The light does not
come out tangential to the points of highest curvature. The phase space structure is also
reflected in the internal wave function.
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