Ultrasmall InGa(As)P Dielectric and Plasmonic Nanolasers.

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Nanolasers offer significant potential for integrated photonic circuits and advanced optical barcoding.
• Miniaturization of laser sources is crucial for developing compact and efficient optical systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate ultrasmall, room-temperature, single-mode nanolasers in the red spectral range.
• To explore plasmon polariton lasing in nanodisks for enhanced stimulated emission.
• To develop wafer-scale fabrication methods for nanodisk lasers suitable for biological applications.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of indium gallium phosphide (InGaP) and indium gallium arsenide phosphide (InGaAsP) disk lasers using UV lithography and plasma ashing.
• Optical pumping to achieve lasing in both disk-on-pillar and isolated nanodisk configurations.
• Integration of nanodisks with gold substrates to induce plasmon polariton effects.
• Silica coating of nanodisk particles for cellular imaging.

Main Results:

• Achieved room-temperature, single-mode lasing from ultrasmall InGaP and InGaAsP disk lasers (down to 360 nm diameter).
• Demonstrated plasmon polariton lasing with Purcell-enhanced stimulated emission from isolated nanodisks on gold.
• Successfully fabricated nanodisks with controlled size variation on a wafer scale.
• Showcased stable subnanometer spectral generation from silica-coated nanodisk particles within biological cells (635–715 nm bandwidth).

Conclusions:

• Ultrasmall InGaP and InGaAsP nanolasers are viable for on-chip light sources and optical barcoding.
• Plasmon polariton effects significantly enhance stimulated emission in nanolasers.
• Wafer-scale fabrication techniques enable practical production of these nanodevices.
• Silica-coated nanolasers are effective for subnanometer spectral imaging within biological environments.