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Updated: Jun 25, 2026
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20 mJ, 1 ps Yb:YAG Thin-disk Regenerative Amplifier
Published on: July 12, 2017
High-purity linearly polarized emission from a compact BIC laser
Yifan Li1,2,3, Wei Guo1,4, Zihang Cui1,3,5
1Electronic Information School, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China.
Light, Science & Applications
|June 23, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed a new method for controlling polarization in photonic crystal (PhC) lasers, enabling highly pure polarized emission. This breakthrough overcomes previous limitations, paving the way for advanced optical devices.
Area of Science:
- Photonics
- Laser Physics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Bound states in the continuum (BICs) offer high quality factors in photonic crystal (PhC) lasers, enabling low thresholds.
- BICs possess momentum-space vectorial polarization vortices, hindering high-purity polarized emission.
- Existing polarization control methods for PhC lasers suffer from low purity due to finite-size effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel strategy for monolithic polarization engineering in PhC laser emission.
- To achieve high polarization purity without compromising laser performance metrics.
- To demonstrate a compact, high-performance polarized PhC laser source.
Main Methods:
- Development of a dispersion-assisted polarization control strategy.
- Fabrication and characterization of a compact quasi-BIC laser.
- Experimental validation of polarization control and laser performance.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated linearly-polarized emission from a quasi-BIC laser.
- Achieved a high polarization extinction ratio of approximately 300:1.
- Maintained single-mode operation and high beam quality.
Conclusions:
- The dispersion-assisted strategy enables efficient polarization tailoring for PhC lasers.
- The developed quasi-BIC laser provides a miniaturized, highly pure polarized light source.
- This work facilitates applications in optical communication, displays, and precision measurements.
