Open AccessPneumatically tunable optofluidic DFB dye laser using corrugated sidewalls
Author(s) -
Tyler Sano,
Jennifer A. Black,
Sarah Mitchell,
Han Zhang,
Holger Schmidt
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
optics letters/optics index
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.524
H-Index - 272
eISSN - 1071-2763
pISSN - 0146-9592
DOI - 10.1364/ol.404303
Subject(s) - rhodamine 6g , polydimethylsiloxane , materials science , optofluidics , laser , microfluidics , optics , lasing threshold , laser power scaling , distributed feedback laser , optoelectronics , rhodamine , refractive index , dye laser , grating , nanotechnology , physics , fluorescence , wavelength
Polydimethylsiloxane-based optofluidics provides a powerful platform for a complete analytical lab-on-chip. Here, we report on a novel on-chip laser source that can be integrated with sample preparation and analysis functions. A corrugated sidewall structure is integrated into a microfluidic channel to form a distributed feedback (DFB) laser using rhodamine 6G dissolved in an ethylene glycol and water solution. Lasing is demonstrated with a threshold pump power of 87.9 µW, corresponding to a pump intensity of 52.7 m W / c m 2 . Laser threshold and output power are optimized with respect to rhodamine 6G concentration and core index and found to be in good agreement with a rate equation model. Additionally, the laser can be switched on and off mechanically using a pneumatic cell inducing positive pressure on the grating.