Thomas Woggon

Intermediate high index layer for laser mode tuning in organic semiconductor lasers.

We modified the optical properties of organic semiconductor distributed feedback lasers by introducing a high refractive index layer consisting of tantalum pentoxide between the substrate and the active material layer. A thin film of tris-(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminium doped with the laser dye 4-dicyanomethylene-2-methyl-6-(p-dimethylamino-styryl)-4H-pyran was used as the active layer. By varying the intermediate layer thickness we could change the effective refractive index of the guided laser mode and thus the laser wavelength. With this technique we were able to tune the laser emission range between 613 nm and 667 nm. For high index layer thicknesses higher than 40 nm the laser operated on the TE(1)-mode rather than the fundamental TE(0)-mode.

Nanostructuring of organic-inorganic hybrid materials for distributed feedback laser resonators by two-photon polymerization

With two-photon absorption induced polymerization arbitrary three dimensional nano- and microstructures can be patterned directly into photoresists. We report on the fabrication of a low threshold organic semiconductor distributed feedback laser using the technique of two-photon absorption induced polymerization. A surface grating with 400 nm periodicity and 40 nm height modulation was fabricated by two-photon absorption induced polymerization in the organic-inorganic hybrid material ORMOCER. With structuring several stacked layers acting as a planar basis for the nanostructure microscopic substrate tilt can be compensated simply. This enabled us to uniformly nano-structure the surface grating over an area of 200 x 200 microm(2).

Organic semiconductor distributed feedback (DFB) laser as excitation source in Raman spectroscopy

As an application of organic semiconductor distributed feedback (DFB) lasers we demonstrate their use as excitation sources in Raman spectroscopy. We employed an efficient small molecule blend, a high quality resonator and a novel encapsulation method resulting in an improved laser output power, a reduced laser line width and an enhanced power stability. Based on theses advances, Raman spectroscopy on selected substances was enabled. Raman spectra of sulfur and cadmium sulfide are presented and compared with the ones excited by a helium-neon laser. We also fabricated a spectrally tunable organic semiconductor DFB laser to optimize the Raman signals for a given optical filter configuration.

Organic semiconductor distributed feedback laser fabricated by direct laser interference ablation

We use a pulsed, frequency tripled picosecond Nd:YAG laser for holographic ablation to pattern a surface relief grating into an organic semiconductor guest-host system. The resulting second order distributed feedback lasers exhibit laser action with laser thresholds being comparable to those obtained with resonators structured by standard lithographic techniques. The details of the interference ablation of tris-(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminum (Alq(3)) doped with the laser dye 4- dicyanomethylene-2-methyl-6-(p-dimethylaminostyryl)-4H-pyran (DCM) are presented and discussed. Lasing action is demonstrated at a wavelength of 646.6 nm, exploiting second order Bragg reflection in a relief grating with a period of 399 nm.

Organic semiconductor lasers as integrated light sources for optical sensor systems

We demonstrate the feasibility of organic semiconductor lasers as light sources for lab-on-a-chip systems. These lasers are based on a 1D- or 2D-photonic crystal resonator structure providing optical feedback in the active laser material that is deposited on top, e.g. aluminum tris(8-hydroxyquinoline) (Alq3) doped with the laser dye 4-dicyanomethylene-2-methyl-6-(p-dimethylaminostyryl)-4H-pyran (DCM). We investigated different fabrication methods for the resonator structures, like thermal nanoimprint, UV nanoimprint, and laser interference lithography. Different substrate materials commonly used in lab-on-a-chip systems, e.g. PMMA, Topas, and Ormocer were deployed. By changing the distributed feedback grating periodicity, we demonstrate a tuning range for a single material system of more than 120 nm. The investigated organic semiconductor lasers are optically pumped. External optical pumping provides a feasible way for one-time-use chips. Our recent success of pumping organic lasers with a low-cost laser diode also renders hand-held systems possible. As a further step towards the integration of organic lasers in sensor systems, we demonstrate the coupling of an organic laser into polymeric waveguides which can be combined with microfluidic channels. The integrated organic lasers and the waveguides are both fabricated on the same polished PMMA substrate using thermal nanoimprint lithography and deep-UV modification, respectively. We could demonstrate the guiding of the laser light in single-mode waveguides.

Optical spectroscopy with organic semiconductor lasers

We report on the fabrication of large-scale surface gratings by laser interference lithography and reactive ion etching on which we evaporated a thin film of the organic semiconductor tris(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminum doped with the laser dye 4-dicyanomethylene-2-methyl-6-(p-dimethylaminostyril)-4H-pyrane. We created a thickness gradient by using a rotating shadow mask evaporation technique. This allowed us to continuously tune the emission wavelength from 606 nm to 661 nm on a single substrate. After encapsulation, we demonstrated the usefulness of such low-cost and tunable organic semiconductor lasers by conducting simple fluorescence excitation and transmission spectroscopy measurements using a minimal amount of additional optical components.

Photonic stopband tuning of organic semiconductor distributed feedback lasers by oblique angle deposition of an intermediate high index layer

We modified the photonic band structure of organic distributed feedback lasers by introducing a patterned high index intermediate layer of tantalum pentoxide. This layer was oblique angle evaporated onto one dimensional surface gratings with a periodicity of 400 nm. The dielectric broadened the stopband due to its high refractive index compared to both the substrate and the active layer. By tuning the layer thickness we could increase the stopband from 3 to 16 nm.

Polymer biophotonic lab-on-chip devices with integrated organic semiconductor lasers

We present optofluidic lab-on-a-chip devices (LOCs) for single use as disposables. In our approach we are aiming for systems out of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) that integrate (a) organic lasers, (b) optical waveguides, (c) microfluidic channels, (d) surface functionalization, and (e) fluorescence excitation on one single chip. We are utilizing mass production techniques to show the applicability of this approach by avoiding electrical interconnects but using optical and fluidic interfaces only. With our experiments we can show the feasibility of this approach by respectively combining two consecutive elements (a - e) of the path of light: Organic semiconductor lasers are integrated by evaporating a thin film of photoactive material on top of a distributed feedback (DFB) grating. For this purpose, grating masters are replicated by hot embossing into PMMA bulk material. The lasing wavelength in the visible light regime is tuned by altering the thickness of the vacuum deposited organic semiconductor active material or the DFB grating period. Emitted light from the DFB laser is coupled into polymer strip optical waveguides realized by Deep UV lithography. The waveguides allow optical guidance to a microfluidic channel. Tailored surface functionalization in the microfluidic channel by Dip-Pen Nanolithography (DPN) enables the local excitation of fluorescent markers and thus a detection of selected components in biomedical or environmentally relevant fluids.

Fabrication and characterization of organic solid-state lasers using imprint technologies

This work has demonstrated the feasibility of both UV and thermal nanoimprinting as fabrication tools for organic laser resonators. In conjunction with the realized waveguide coupling, an important step towards an integrated organic laser source for optical sensor systems is presented.

All-organic waveguide coupled solid-state distributed feedback laser

In this paper, the combination of organic semiconductor distributed feedback lasers with polymeric waveguides is demonstrated. Such lasers can cover a wide range of emission wavelengths making them very interesting for a wide range of applications. A waveguide coupling is desired when the laser light has to be guided, manipulated and detected on chip. The fabrication must be cost efficient and reliable.