Stimulated Chiral Light-Matter Interactions in Biological Microlasers
Zhiyi Yuan1, Yunke Zhou1, Zhen Qiao1
1School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, 639798 Singapore.
ACS Nano
|May 14, 2021
Summary
This study introduces the first biological chiral laser, enhancing chiral light-matter interactions using stimulated emission in an active resonator. This breakthrough offers new insights into biophysics and quantum optics.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Quantum Optics
- Photonics
Background:
- Chiral light-matter interactions are crucial in biophysics and quantum optics.
- Previous research focused on passive resonators and spontaneous emission.
- The role of stimulated emission in chiral biomolecule interactions was unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and demonstrate a biological chiral laser.
- To amplify chiral light-matter interactions via stimulated emission.
- To explore chirality transfer mechanisms.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a Fabry-Perot microcavity with fluorescent proteins or chiral biomolecules as gain material.
- Excited the system with circularly polarized pump lasers (left-handed or right-handed).
- Employed detailed experimental and theoretical analysis.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated significant enhancement of chiral light-matter interactions through stimulated emission.
- Established that lasing dissymmetry factor depends on molecular absorption dissymmetry.
- Investigated chirality transfer via resonance energy transfer under stimulated emission.
Conclusions:
- Elucidated the mechanism of stimulated chiral light-matter interactions.
- Provided a deeper understanding of light-matter interactions in biophysics.
- Opened avenues for chiral sensing and quantum biophotonics applications.
Keywords:
chiral light−matter interactionsfluorescent proteinsmicrolasersoptical microcavitystimulated emission
