Free space excitation of novel “Fractional” whispering gallery mode dielectric resonators

Solutions to the main problems that limit the sensitivity of an electron magnetic resonance (EMR) spectrometer on the basis of a whispering gallery mode dielectric resonator (WGMDR) are presented. The electromagnetic losses in the transition regions between the overmoded metallic waveguide, the overmoded dielectric waveguide and the mono-mode dielectric waveguide can be avoided by the free space excitation of the resonator that is proved to be very effective for suitably designed resonators. The EMR measurements on high-dielectric-loss samples can be safely developed employing the novel class of “fractional” WGMDRs, in which the usual traveling wave resonator is modified in a structurally stationary wave resonator. Several peculiarities of a fractional WGMDR, investigated both theoretically and experimentally, evidence the advantages of the application of this class of WGMDRs to EMR spectroscopy.