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Fabrication of Polymer Microspheres for Optical Resonator and Laser Applications
Published on: June 2, 2017
Tuning whispering gallery mode lasing from self-assembled polymer droplets
Van Duong Ta1, Rui Chen, Han Dong Sun
1Division of Physics and Applied Physics, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637371, Singapore.
Scientific Reports
|March 2, 2013
Summary
Researchers developed tunable microresonators using polymer droplets. Mechanical tuning of these microcavities enabled selective wavelength lasing, paving the way for flexible plastic optoelectronics.
Area of Science:
- Optics and Photonics
- Materials Science
- Condensed Matter Physics
Background:
- Optical microcavities are crucial for light-matter interactions and devices like microlasers and optical filters.
- Tunable microresonators, allowing manipulation of resonant modes, are of significant scientific and technological interest.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate a novel method for mechanically tuning microresonators.
- To achieve tunable, selective wavelength lasing using polymer droplet microcavities.
Main Methods:
- Self-assembly of polymer droplets of varying sizes within an elastic medium.
- Incorporation of different dye molecules into the droplets.
- Optical pumping to induce lasing and mechanical deformation for tuning.
Main Results:
- Optically pumped lasing achieved with selective wavelengths over a 100 nm range.
- Lasing action confirmed to be due to whispering gallery modes.
- Single longitudinal mode lasing obtained for droplet diameters around 14 μm.
- Mechanical deformation demonstrated clear tuning of lasing modes.
Conclusions:
- The study presents a unique approach to creating mechanically tunable microresonators.
- This method offers a flexible platform for developing tunable microlasers for plastic optoelectronic devices.
