Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 13, 2026

Fabrication of 1-D Photonic Crystal Cavity on a Nanofiber Using Femtosecond Laser-induced Ablation
Published on: February 25, 2017
Higher-order defect-mode laser in an optically thick photonic crystal slab
Se-Heon Kim1, Jingqing Huang, Axel Scherer
1Department of Physics, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA. seheon@caltech.edu
Researchers demonstrated a novel photonic crystal laser design using an optically thick slab. This design confines a higher-order defect mode within a photonic bandgap, achieving high quality factor and low threshold pulsed lasing.
Area of Science:
- Photonics
- Materials Science
- Laser Physics
Background:
- Photonic crystals offer versatile solutions for advanced optical devices.
- Optically thick slabs are being explored for novel laser designs.
- Current injection-type lasers require efficient mode confinement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and demonstrate a transversely higher-order defect mode confined by a photonic bandgap in an optically thick slab.
- To achieve high quality factor (Q) and low threshold lasing in a photonic crystal laser.
- To explore the potential of photonic crystals for current injection-type lasers.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing simulations to design and analyze a photonic bandgap structure.
- Focusing on a second-order hexapole mode (2h) for mode confinement.
- Conducting experimental optical pumping to achieve pulsed lasing.
Main Results:
- Simulations predicted a high Q factor exceeding 10^5 for the 2h mode.
- Experimentally achieved optically pumped pulsed lasing at 1347 nm.
- Observed a peak threshold pump power as low as 88 μW.
Conclusions:
- The optically thick slab approach is viable for creating photonic crystal lasers.
- The designed second-order hexapole mode offers excellent confinement and high Q.
- This work paves the way for efficient current injection-type photonic crystal lasers.
Related Concept Videos
Imperfections in Crystal Structure: Point, Line and Plane Defects
Imperfections in Crystal Structure: Stoichiometric Point Defects
Imperfections in Crystal Structure: Non-Stoichiometric Defects
Confocal Fluorescence Microscopy

