Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 15, 2025
08:06
Fabrication of Polymer Microspheres for Optical Resonator and Laser Applications
Published on: June 2, 2017
14.3K
Laser Diode Pumped Polymer Lasers with Tunable Emission Based on Microfluidic Channels
Ben Niu1, Kun Ge1, Zhiyang Xu1
1Faculty of Science, College of Physics and Optoelectronics, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China.
Polymers
|October 23, 2021
Summary
A tunable polymer laser using whispering-gallery-mode (WGM) cavities was developed. This microfluidic device, pumped by a laser diode, demonstrates stable operation and tunable wavelengths for photonic applications.
Area of Science:
- Photonics
- Materials Science
- Microfluidics
Background:
- Whispering-gallery-mode (WGM) lasers are crucial for photonic applications.
- Developing tunable and stable WGM lasers is an ongoing research area.
- Laser diode pumping offers a compact and efficient excitation method.
Purpose of the Study:
- To realize a tunable polymer WGM laser using laser diode pumping.
- To investigate the stability and performance of such a laser system.
- To demonstrate wavelength and mode tunability.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a microfluidic microcavity using a quartz capillary.
- Incorporation of polymer gain materials within the microfluidic channel.
- Characterization of laser performance under laser diode pumping.
Main Results:
- Achieved a low threshold of 0.43 MW/cm2 per pulse for the tunable polymer WGM laser.
- Demonstrated stable laser performance for 3.5 hours with continuous laser diode pumping.
- Tuned the lasing wavelength over 15 nm by varying gain material concentration.
- Switched between transverse magnetic (TM) and transverse electric (TE) modes by adjusting pump polarization.
Conclusions:
- The developed microfluidic WGM laser shows promising stability and tunability.
- Laser diode pumping is effective for exciting polymer WGM lasers.
- This work provides a foundation for designing advanced nanophotonic devices.
