Architecture for Surface-Emitting Lasers with On-Demand Lasing Wavelength by Nanowire Optical Cavities

Area of Science:

• Semiconductor laser technology
• Nanophotonics
• Materials science

Background:

• Surface-emitting (SE) semiconductor lasers offer significant advantages but are limited by wavelength choices.
• Developing SE lasers in the ultraviolet (UV) spectral range lags behind other wavelengths, despite potential applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate a method for achieving SE lasers with on-demand lasing wavelengths.
• To address the need for SE lasers in the UV spectral range for applications like solar-blind optical wireless communications.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing III-nitride nanowire optical cavities fabricated via low-temperature selective area epitaxy (SAE).
• Fine-tuning substrate patterns and photonic bands to control lasing wavelength.
• Achieving lasing through optical pumping and direct electric current injection.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated ultralow threshold, wavelength-tunable SE UV lasing.
• Successfully achieved SE UV lasing under direct electric current injection.
• Showcased the potential for on-demand wavelength SE lasers from near-infrared (NIR) to UV.

Conclusions:

• This work represents a significant advancement in SE UV laser development.
• The demonstrated approach enables SE lasers with precisely controlled, on-demand lasing wavelengths.
• The findings lay the foundation for a new generation of versatile SE lasers across a broad spectral range.