M. Lebental

Highly directional stadium-shaped polymer microlasers

The far-field emission of two-dimensional stadium-shaped microlasers is investigated. Stadium-shaped microcavities based on a laser dye embedded in a polymer matrix have been elaborated. Such stadium-shaped microresonators, made by lithography and reactive ion etching have displayed quality factors greater than 6000 and a high output power. The highly directional far-field pattern of the emitted beam (full width at half maximum ∼15°) reflects the symmetries of the stadium shape.

Spectra, thresholds, and modal fields of a kite-shaped microcavity laser

We investigate the lasing spectra, threshold gain values, and emission directionalities for a two-dimensional microcavity laser with a “kite” contour. The cavity modes are considered accurately using the linear electromagnetic formalism of the lasing eigenvalue problem with exact boundary and radiation conditions. We develop a numerical algorithm based on the Muller boundary integral equations discretized using the Nystrom technique, which has theoretically justified and fast convergence. The influence of the deviation from the circular shape on the modal characteristics is studied numerically for the modes polarized in the cavity plane, demonstrating opportunities of directionality improvement together with preservation of a low threshold. These advantageous features are shown for the perturbed whispering-gallery modes of high-enough azimuth orders. Other modes can display improved directivities while suffering from drastically higher threshold levels. Experiments based on planar organic microcavity lasers confirm the coexistence of Fabry–Perot-like and whispering-gallery-like modes in kite-shaped cavities and show good agreement with the predicted far-field angular diagrams.

Circular dielectric cavity and its deformations

The construction of perturbation series for slightly deformed dielectric circular cavity is discussed in detail. The obtained formulas are checked on the example of cut disks. A good agreement is found with direct numerical simulations and far-field experiments.

Inferring periodic orbits from spectra of simply shaped microlasers

Dielectric microcavities are widely used as laser resonators and characterizations of their spectra are of interest for various applications. We experimentally investigate microlasers of simple shapes (Fabry-Perot, square, pentagon, and disk). Their lasing spectra consist mainly of almost equidistant peaks and the distance between peaks reveals the length of a quantized periodic orbit. To measure this length with a good precision, it is necessary to take into account different sources of refractive index dispersion. Our experimental and numerical results agree with the superscar model describing the formation of long-lived states in polygonal cavities. The limitations of the two-dimensional approximation are briefly discussed in connection with microdisks.

Three-dimensional microlasers based on polymer fibers fabricated by electrospinning

We report three-dimensional mirror-less lasing from non-cylindrical dye doped polystyrene fibers drawn using an electrospinning procedure where the fiber cross-sectional shape and dimension could be controlled. Signatures of three dimensional etalon like modes were observed corresponding to the transverse and axial quantization of the wave vector. Low lasing thresholds of the order of 200 nJ were achieved along with moderate Q factors.

Directional emission of stadium-shaped microlasers

The far-field emission of two-dimensional stadium-shaped dielectric cavities is investigated. Microlasers with such shape present a highly directional emission. We provide experimental evidence of the dependence of the emission directionality on the shape of the stadium, in good agreement with ray numerical simulations. We develop an analytical geometrical optics model which permits to account for the main observed features. Wave numerical calculations confirm the results.

An insight into polarization states of solid-state organic lasers

The polarization states of lasers are crucial issues both for practical applications and fundamental research. In general, they depend in a combined manner on the properties of the gain material and on the structure of the electromagnetic modes. In this paper, we address this issue in the case of solid-state organic lasers, a technology which enables to vary independently gain and mode properties. Different kinds of resonators are investigated: in-plane micro-resonators with Fabry-Perot, square, pentagon, stadium, disk, and kite shapes, and external vertical resonators. The degree of polarization P is measured in each case. It is shown that although TE modes prevail generally (P>0), kite-shaped micro-laser generates negative values for P, i.e. a flip of the dominant polarization which becomes mostly TM polarized. We at last investigated two degrees of freedom that are available to tailor the polarization of organic lasers, in addition to the pump polarization and the resonator geometry: upon using resonant energy transfer (RET) or upon pumping the laser dye to an higher excited state. We then demonstrate that significantly lower P factors can be obtained.

Enhancing performance of polymer-based microlasers by a pedestal geometry

Polymer-based micro-lasers have recently drawn attention due to their attractive features in terms of technological potential, while providing deeper physical insights. In this perspective, we are reporting a number of advances which are related to the practical implementation of a relatively new design whereby micro-cavities are set on pedestals, in contrast with earlier architectures where the resonators were set in full contact with the substrate. Such a pedestal structure is shown to be responsible for a spectacular increase in the lasing efficiency. Depending on the cavity shape, the output power increase can reach up to 3 orders of magnitude. The emitted spectra also exhibit an enriched structure revealed by more favorable lasing and output coupling conditions. Simulations support experimental results and designate the crucial role of the cavity edges in light output coupling processes. Perspectives towards sensing applications are outlined as well as insights into fundamental issues of great practi...

Controlling the directional emission of holey organic microlasers

The far-field pattern of stadium-shaped organic microlasers is strongly modified by introducing circular air vacancies within the cavity, so as to control it in a predictive way. Experimental results are in good agreement with geometrical optics predictions whereas spectral properties of emission are investigated to improve the understanding of the lasing modes.

Three-dimensional emission from organic Fabry-Perot microlasers

We measured the far-field emission patterns in three dimensions of flat organic dye microlasers using a solid angle scanner. Polymer-based microcavities of ribbon shape (i.e., Fabry-Perot type) were investigated. Out of plane emission from the cavities was observed, with significant differences for the two cases of resonators either fully supported by the substrate or sustained by a pedestal. In both cases, the emission diagrams are accounted for by a model combining diffraction at the cavity edges and reflections from the substrate.