Open AccessDistributed feedback micro-laser array: helixed liquid crystals embedded in holographically sculptured polymeric microcavities
Author(s) -
V. Barna,
Roberto Caputo,
Antonio De Luca,
Nicola Scaramuzza,
Giuseppe Strangi,
C. Versace,
Cesare Umeton,
Roberto Bartolino,
Gabriel Noam Price
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.14.002695
Subject(s) - lasing threshold , materials science , laser , resonator , optics , liquid crystal , optoelectronics , miniaturization , dye laser , optical cavity , wavelength , photonic crystal , nanotechnology , physics
We report a detailed physical characterization of a novel array of organic distributed feedback microcavity lasers possessing a high ratio between the quality factor Q of the resonant cavity and its volume V. The optical microcavity was obtained by confining self-organized mesophases doped with fluorescent guest molecules into holographically patterned polymeric microchannels. The liquid crystal microchannels act as mirror-less cavity lasers, where the emitted laser light propagates along the liquid crystal helical axis behaving as Bragg resonator. This miniaturization process allows us to obtain a micro-laser array possessing an ultralow lasing threshold (25nJ/pulse) while having directional control on the lasing emission, a fine wavelength tunability and the control over the emission intensity.