We perform an investigation into the properties of Pr3+:Y2SiO5 whispering
gallery mode resonators as a first step towards achieving the strong coupling
regime of cavity QED with rare-earth-ion doped crystals. Direct measurement of
cavity QED parameters are made using photon echoes, giving good agreement with
theoretical predictions. By comparing the ions at the surface of the resonator
to those in the center it is determined that the physical process of making the
resonator does not negatively affect the properties of the ions. Coupling
between the ions and resonator is analyzed through the observation of optical
bistability and normal-mode splitting.Comment: 8 pages, 9 figure
