Comparative analysis of nonlinear optofluidic processes in microdroplets.

Our prior work has shown that high quality (Q) factor whispering gallery modes (WGMs) in liquid microdroplets can potentially induce single-photon-level nonlinear effects through radiation pressure on the interface. However, little is known about the nonlinear effects of other processes involving scattering force and thermocapillarity. In this study, we establish a numerical framework that can calculate the fluid motion and the resultant nonlinearity induced by the optical scattering force and thermocapillarity. Then, we compare the magnitude of various nonlinear optofluidic processes induced by the radiation pressure, the thermocapillary effect, the scattering-induced optical force, and the Kerr effect. Using realistic fluid parameters, we show that the radiation pressure due to the WGM produces the strongest nonlinear optofluidic effect.