We report measurements of ultrahigh quality factors ($Q$-factors) of the optical whispering-gallery modes excited via a tapered optical-fiber waveguide in single glycerol–water microdroplets standing on a superhydrophobic surface in air. Owing to the high contact angle of the glycerol–water mixture on the superhydrophobic surface ($>155°$), microdroplets with the geometry of a truncated sphere minimally distorted by gravity and contact line pinning effects could be generated. $Q$-factors up to $2.3\times {10}^6$ were observed for such droplets with radii of $100–200\mathrm{\mu m}$ exposed to the ambient atmosphere in a closed chamber with controlled relative humidity. Placement of microdroplets in a constant humidity environment permitted prolonged characterization of $Q$-factors for individual microdroplets. We found that the $Q$-factors in air were stable over more than 1 h and their measured values were limited mostly by the thermally induced droplet shape fluctuations.

© 2012 Optical Society of America

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