Lasing from MEH-PPV with a refractive index tunable by electron irradiation

Area of Science:

• Organic electronics
• Laser physics
• Materials science

Background:

• Conventional distributed feedback (DFB) laser fabrication is complex, involving multiple steps.
• Existing methods require intricate processes like mold creation and substrate coating.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a simplified, one-step fabrication method for DFB lasers.
• To demonstrate the use of selective electron irradiation for creating DFB laser structures.

Main Methods:

• Selective electron irradiation of the MEH-PPV gain medium.
• Utilizing refractive index changes induced by electron irradiation to form a diffraction grating.
• Employing non-irradiated regions as the gain medium.

Main Results:

• Successful fabrication of a DFB laser using the one-step electron irradiation method.
• Achieved a low lasing threshold of 3 kW/cm² (1.8 µJ/cm²).
• Demonstrated tunability of the lasing wavelength by adjusting the grating period.

Conclusions:

• The presented one-step electron irradiation technique offers a significantly simpler alternative to conventional DFB laser fabrication.
• This method enables efficient DFB laser production with tunable output and low thresholds.
• The approach holds promise for advancing organic laser technologies.