Laser Action Based on Electrically Controllable Defect Mode in One-Dimensional Photonic Crystal Containing Conducting Polymer and Liquid Crystal Defect Layers

Abstract

ABSTRACT Electrical tuning of the wavelength of a defect mode lasing in a one-dimensional photonic crystal has been demonstrated using a conducting polymer as an active emission layer and a nematic liquid crystal as an electrically tunable defect layer in the periodic structure. Lasing wavelength is widely tuned upon applying the electric field, which follows a defect mode shift due to the refractive index change in the nematic liquid crystal defect layer caused by field-induced realignment of the liquid crystal molecules.