We experimentally report an asymmetrical spherical microcavity with thermal-induced deformation, in which five-bounce whispering-gallery modes possess not only ultrahigh quality factors $\left(Q\right)$ but also remarkably directional escape emission from the microsphere boundary. With efficient free-space excitation and collection, a low-threshold microlaser is demonstrated and exhibits a highly directional emission. Our measurement agrees well with the theoretical predictions by corrected Fresnel law.

© 2009 Optical Society of America

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