Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 3, 2026

Using Microwave and Macroscopic Samples of Dielectric Solids to Study the Photonic Properties of Disordered Photonic Bandgap Materials
Published on: September 26, 2014
Lasing from Micro- and Nano-Scale Photonic Disordered Structures for Biomedical Applications.
R Gayathri1, C S Suchand Sandeep1, C Vijayan2
1Centre for Optical and Laser Engineering, School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore.
Disordered photonic media enable random lasing through light scattering. Recent advancements show potential for random lasers in biomedical imaging and biosensing applications.
Area of Science:
- Photonics and Optics
- Condensed Matter Physics
Background:
- Disordered photonic media feature randomly distributed scatterers.
- Light propagation involves multiple scattering events, akin to a random walk.
- Micro- and nano-scale structures enhance light-matter interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discuss the fundamental physics of light propagation in disordered structures.
- To review the phenomenon of random lasing.
- To highlight recent advancements and biomedical applications of random lasers.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical discussion of light propagation and multiple scattering.
- Review of experimental techniques for random laser fabrication and characterization.
- Analysis of recent literature on random laser advancements.
Main Results:
- Random lasing arises from coherent backscattering in disordered media with gain.
- Tunable, quasi-monochromatic emission is characteristic of random lasers.
- Disordered structures provide a versatile platform for novel laser functionalities.
Conclusions:
- Random lasing is a unique phenomenon driven by light scattering in disordered media.
- Recent progress has expanded the capabilities and applications of random lasers.
- Future potential lies in biomedical imaging and biosensing.
Related Concept Videos
Imaging Biological Samples with Optical Microscopy
In optical microscopy, the specimen to be viewed is placed on a glass slide and clipped on the stage...
Confocal Fluorescence Microscopy
Super-resolution Fluorescence Microscopy
Overview of Electron Microscopy
Two-Dimensional Microscopy in Microbiology
Three-Dimensional Microscopy in Microbiology

