Abstract
Laser cavities have been realized in various different photonic systems. One of the forefront research fields regards the investigation of the physics of amplifying random optical media. The random laser is a fascinating concept because, further to the fundamental research investigating light transport into complex media, it allows us to obtain non-conventional spectral distribution and angular beam emission patterns not achievable with conventional approaches. Even more intriguing is the possibility to engineer a priori the optical properties of a disordered distribution in an amplifying medium. We demonstrate here the realization of a terahertz quantum cascade laser in an isotropic hyperuniform disordered distribution exhibiting unique features, such as the presence of a photonic band gap, low threshold current density, unconventional angular emission and optical bistability.
Highlights
Hyperuniform distribution of pillars, exhibiting a photonic band gap as large as 18% approaching the band gap of a conventional photonic crystal (PC)
Disordered hyperuniform point patterns are characterized mathematically by reduced density fluctuations compared to a random system
The optical bistability, the possibility to have completely different angular emission depending on the device biasing condition, is one important distinct feature of our approach which could be exploited further in other device architectures
Summary
Hyperuniform distribution of pillars, exhibiting a photonic band gap as large as 18% approaching the band gap of a conventional PC. The device lases on the localized modes at the lower edge of the band gap, which has been scaled in order to match the gain profile of the active region.
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