Electrically pumped semiconductor lasers are highly efficient, compact, and stable sources of light. For mid-infrared and terahertz radiation, quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) are the preferred electrical pumping devices. To achieve single-mode laser emission, researchers have developed distributed-feedback (DFB) gratings on ridge lasers.
While DFB-based QCLs produce high-output emission and maintain single-mode operation, there is still a need for advanced beam engineering and high optical emission from a single laser device. These features are crucial for applications such as communications, imaging, and spectroscopy.
In a groundbreaking study published in Light Science & Application, Professor Qi Jie Wang and his team from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore have developed an electrically-pumped topological bulk laser that combines single-mode emission and a cylindrical vector beam.
According to the researchers, “The development of electrically pumped topological insulator lasers has garnered significant research interest recently as they hold great potential for practical applications in topological photonics. By constructing a topological photonic cavity and integrating it with gain materials, we can achieve laser emission.”
The researchers also highlight the advantages of their laser design, stating, “The optical modes in the topological domain are laterally confined and possess high quality factors and far-field polarization singularities, known as bound states in the continuum (BICs). These features enable laser device miniaturization and single-mode laser emission. Additionally, the BIC emits a vector beam.”
The team’s demonstration of a monolithic terahertz vector beam laser is expected to attract considerable interest in various research fields. The researchers note that their laser cavity design can be easily scaled to other wavelength regimes for potential applications in different areas.
More information:
Song Han et al, Electrically-pumped compact topological bulk lasers driven by band-inverted bound states in the continuum, Light: Science & Applications (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41377-023-01200-8
Citation:
Topological bulk BICs enable compact, single-mode and beam-engineered QCLs (2023, June 20)
retrieved 20 June 2023
from https://phys.org/news/2023-06-topological-bulk-bics-enable-compact.html
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