Optical Feedback Mechanism Research Articles

Plasmonic tuning of nano-antennas for super-gain light amplification

Nanoscale conductive materials are often used for inducing localized free electron oscillations known as plasmons. This is due to their high electronic excitability under optical irradiation owing to their super-small volume. Recently, plasmons have been of interest for enhancing the gain-bandwidth product of optical amplifiers. There are currently two well-established mechanisms for light amplification. The first one is via stimulated emission of radiation (lasers) using a given energy source and often an optical feedback mechanism. The second one is based on the nonlinear coupling of a low-intensity input wave and a high-intensity pump wave for energy exchange (parametric amplifiers). Both techniques have shortcomings. Lasers have a small operation bandwidth and offer a limited gain, but require moderate energy pumping to operate. Whereas optical parametric amplifiers (OPAs) offer a high operation bandwidth along with a much higher optical gain, with the drawback of requiring intense pumping to be functional. The aim of this paper is to introduce a technique that combines the advantages and eliminates the drawbacks of both techniques in the nanoscale to allow for a better amplification performance in integrated optical devices. This is achieved by inducing a plasmonic chirp in conductive nanomaterials a.k.a nano-antennas, which enables the confinement of an enormous electric energy density that can be coupled to an input beam for amplification. Using the Finite Difference Time Domain numerical-method with the material parameters of well-known semiconductors, intramaterial condensation of electric energy density is observed in semiconductor nano-antennas for certain plasmonic chirp-frequencies which enables broadband high-gain optical amplification based on free-electron oscillations that is promising for small-scale optical devices requiring a high gain-bandwidth product. The results are in good agreement with semiempirical data.

Ultralong Single‐Ended Random Fiber Laser and Sensor

AbstractRandom fiber laser (RFL) utilizing stimulated Raman scattering and distributed random Rayleigh backscattering in fiber as optical gain and feedback mechanisms, respectively, has been developed rapidly in the past decade. Here, it is found, for the first time, that the combination of a high‐order pump and new transmission fiberthat has lower transmission loss, Rayleigh backscattering coefficient, and Raman gain coefficient than standard single‐mode fibercan break the length limits of both random fiber lasing and sensing. With a higher‐order pump and ultralow loss fiber (ULLF), the position of maximum intracavity lasing power can be shifted toward the far end of the fiber span resulting in more remote pump power for the erbium‐doped fiber (EDF) inserted in the fiber span, which plays a dominant role of cavity length extension in RFL. A 200 km ultralong single‐ended RFL and sensor are experimentally demonstrated, which are the longest single‐ended RFL and sensor with functional remote reflectors reported to date. It is believed that the proposed combination of high‐order random lasing and ULLF with EDF can become a general method to extend the working distance of various fiber sensing systems for safety monitoring of ultralong infrastructures, such as power transmission lines and oil/gas pipelines.

Coherent Random Lasing in Subwavelength Quasi‐2D Perovskites

AbstractQuasi‐2D lead halide perovskites have garnered increasing interest as lasing gain media. Relatively simple fabrication, high refractive index, and unique quantum well structure encourage their use in traditional cavity lasers and cavity‐free systems called random lasers (RLs). Despite tremendous advances reported thus far, coherent random lasing in quasi‐2D perovskite subwavelength films has not been reported. Consequently, coherent optical feedback mechanisms in quasi‐2D perovskite systems are still unexplored. Here, this work reports the observation of coherent random lasing in subwavelength quasi‐2D perovskite films. Statistical analysis of spectral measurements reveals Lévy‐like intensity fluctuations, replica symmetry breaking confirms random lasing, and the coherent modes are studied with spectral and spatial correlation techniques. The observed coherent lasing modes are found to be extended states that arise from the random crystal grain structure during fabrication and span the entire pump volume. These modes out‐compete diffusive lasing due to their coherence.

High-performance distributed feedback quantum dot lasers with laterally coupled dielectric gratings

The combination of grating-based frequency-selective optical feedback mechanisms, such as distributed feedback (DFB) or distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) structures, with quantum dot (QD) gain materials is a main approach towards ultrahigh-performance semiconductor lasers for many key novel applications, as either stand-alone sources or on-chip sources in photonic integrated circuits. However, the fabrication of conventional buried Bragg grating structures on GaAs, GaAs/Si, GaSb, and other material platforms has been met with major material regrowth difficulties. We report a novel and universal approach of introducing laterally coupled dielectric Bragg gratings to semiconductor lasers that allows highly controllable, reliable, and strong coupling between the grating and the optical mode. We implement such a grating structure in a low-loss amorphous silicon material alongside GaAs lasers with InAs/GaAs QD gain layers. The resulting DFB laser arrays emit at pre-designed 0.8 THz local area network wavelength division multiplexing frequency intervals in the 1300 nm band with record performance parameters, including sidemode suppression ratios as high as 52.7 dB, continuous-wave output power of 26.6 mW (room temperature) and 6 mW (at 55°C), and ultralow relative intensity noise (RIN) of < − 165 dB / Hz (2.5–20 GHz). The devices are also capable of isolator-free operating under very high external reflection levels of up to − 12.3 dB while maintaining high spectral purity and ultralow RIN qualities. These results validate the novel laterally coupled dielectric grating as a technologically superior and potentially cost-effective approach for fabricating DFB and DBR lasers free of their semiconductor material constraints, which are thus universally applicable across different material platforms and wavelength bands.

Multidimensional cluster states using a single spin-photon interface coupled strongly to an intrinsic nuclear register

Photonic cluster states are a powerful resource for measurement-based quantum computing and loss-tolerant quantum communication. Proposals to generate multi-dimensional lattice cluster states have identified coupled spin-photon interfaces, spin-ancilla systems, and optical feedback mechanisms as potential schemes. Following these, we propose the generation of multi-dimensional lattice cluster states using a single, efficient spin-photon interface coupled strongly to a nuclear register. Our scheme makes use of the contact hyperfine interaction to enable universal quantum gates between the interface spin and a local nuclear register and funnels the resulting entanglement to photons via the spin-photon interface. Among several quantum emitters, we identify the silicon-29 vacancy centre in diamond, coupled to a nanophotonic structure, as possessing the right combination of optical quality and spin coherence for this scheme. We show numerically that using this system a 2×5-sized cluster state with a lower-bound fidelity of 0.5 and repetition rate of 65 kHz is achievable under currently realised experimental performances and with feasible technical overhead. Realistic gate improvements put 100-photon cluster states within experimental reach.

Nanoscale Imaging of Ultrafast Light Coupling to Self-Organized Nanostructures

In the course of laser-induced surface self-organization, an optical feedback mechanism is generally evoked as the main process driving the final rippled topography. To unravel the role of light and transient nanostructures in a multipulse irradiation regime, we use a high-resolved imaging technique, the photoemission electron microscopy. The pulse-to-pulse evolution of the inhomogeneous laser field distribution on a titanium surface nanostructured by a femtosecond laser is investigated at the nanoscale. Photoelectron imaging allows to separate the contributions of radiative and nonradiative scattered fields and to unveil the correlation between the nanocavity density and the quasi-periodic light absorption. The multipulse experimental observations are supported by electromagnetic calculations showing that the absorption of light on an evolving surface relief drives the selection of the final periodicity. The surface distribution of light absorption is influenced by surface topography that transiently ada...

Toward Electrically Pumped Polymer Lasing: Light‐Emitting Diodes Based on Microcavity Arrays of Distributed Bragg Gratings

AbstractElectrically pumped organic lasers have been a challenge for years. The most crucial problem is that the density of charge carriers is much lower than the threshold required for lasing as compared with optical pumping. Apparently, increasing the density of charge carriers and reducing the threshold are two practical routes for solving the problem. Reducing the pump threshold depends strongly on the structural design and the operation‐mode control in the device. Here, a large‐area array of microcavities is employed to construct the light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) using distributed Bragg gratings (DBGs) as high‐efficiency reflectors and the homogeneous poly[(9,9‐dioctylfluorenyl‐2,7‐diyl)‐alt‐co‐(1,4‐benzo‐(2,1′,3)‐thiadiazole)] films in‐between as the active cavity body. Simultaneous lasing of multiple longitudinal modes at optical pumping verifies the optical feedback and oscillation mechanisms in such DBG‐based microcavities. Further successful construction of light‐emitting diodes using these microcavity arrays and the observation of narrowing of the electroluminescence spectrum due to the selectivity by the microcavities and the increase of the excitation electrical field suggest that the LED design here defines a promising step toward electrically pumped polymer lasers.

Stretchable Nanolasing from Hybrid Quadrupole Plasmons.

This paper reports a robust and stretchable nanolaser platform that can preserve its high mode quality by exploiting hybrid quadrupole plasmons as an optical feedback mechanism. Increasing the size of metal nanoparticles in an array can introduce ultrasharp lattice plasmon resonances with out-of-plane charge oscillations that are tolerant to lateral strain. By patterning these nanoparticles onto an elastomeric slab surrounded by liquid gain, we realized reversible, tunable nanolasing with high strain sensitivity and no hysteresis. Our semiquantum modeling demonstrates that lasing build-up occurs at the hybrid quadrupole electromagnetic hot spots, which provides a route toward mechanical modulation of light-matter interactions on the nanoscale.

(Invited) Tracking Hydrodynamic Signatures of Metal Nucleation Events Via Lateral Molecular Force Microscopy

The direct visualization of local events leading to the formation of a critical nucleus remains as one of the most formidable challenges in electrodeposition. Recently, state-of-the-art video-rate scanning tunnelling microscopy has been able to follow lateral growth of Bi deposits with exquisite atomic resolution [1]. However, strong local potential bias between tip and substrate often leads to ‘shielding effects’, significantly decreasing local nucleation rates. Substrate-tip interactions in conventional atomic force microscopy also have a strong effect in local nucleation rate. In this contribution, we shall demonstrate a new approach to monitor individual nucleation events based on tracking local perturbations of hydration shells employing high-speed lateral molecular force microscopy (HS-LMFM). A unique optical feedback mechanism lies at the center of the operating mode of HS-LMFM [2,3]. Under this configuration, the position of a vertically oriented probe (VOP) is tracked by measuring the scattering of the evanescent wave of a laser impinging under total internal reflection from the back of an optically transparent electrode. As the tip approaches the surface oscillating close to its resonant frequency, the oscillation frequency is affected by the visco-elastic properties of the various hydration layers. Changes in the VOP oscillations are optically detected by the scattering evanescent field. This approach enables monitoring interaction with individual hydration layers simultaneously with, but independent of, the optical feedback. In these experiments, the tip is positioned at a distance in which shear force interactions with hydration layers of an In-doped SnO2 electrode (approximately 2.9 nm roughness level) become negligible [4]. As nucleation events are triggered, the hydration layers around individual nuclei move into a detectable range of the VOP, leading to changes in the oscillation frequency. Shear force maps uncover a highly dynamic landscape prior to the formation of stable nucleus. At constant potential, the stochastic formation and dissolution of nuclei can be observed in the sub-second time scale. The growth of a stable nucleus is also followed in real-time, illustrating the potential of this technique for probing complex phase formation phenomena at electrode surfaces. References Matsushima, H. et al. Faraday Discuss. 193, 171-185 (2016).Fletcher, J. M. et al. Science 340, 595-599 (2013).Antognozzi, M. et al. Nat. Phys. 12, 731-735 (2016).Harniman, R.L. et al. Nat. Commun. 8, 971 (2017)

In vivo Microscale Measurements of Light and Photosynthesis during Coral Bleaching: Evidence for the Optical Feedback Loop?

Climate change-related coral bleaching, i.e., the visible loss of zooxanthellae from the coral host, is increasing in frequency and extent and presents a major threat to coral reefs globally. Coral bleaching has been proposed to involve accelerating light stress of their microalgal endosymbionts via a positive feedback loop of photodamage, symbiont expulsion and excess in vivo light exposure. To test this hypothesis, we used light and O2 microsensors to characterize in vivo light exposure and photosynthesis of Symbiodinium during a thermal stress experiment. We created tissue areas with different densities of Symbiodinium cells in order to understand the optical properties and light microenvironment of corals during bleaching. Our results showed that in bleached Pocillopora damicornis corals, Symbiodinium light exposure was up to fivefold enhanced relative to healthy corals, and the relationship between symbiont loss and light enhancement was well-described by a power-law function. Cell-specific rates of Symbiodinium gross photosynthesis and light respiration were enhanced in bleached P. damicornis compared to healthy corals, while areal rates of net photosynthesis decreased. Symbiodinium light exposure in Favites sp. revealed the presence of low light microniches in bleached coral tissues, suggesting that light scattering in thick coral tissues can enable photoprotection of cryptic symbionts. Our study provides evidence for the acceleration of in vivo light exposure during coral bleaching but this optical feedback mechanism differs between coral hosts. Enhanced photosynthesis in relation to accelerating light exposure shows that coral microscale optics exerts a key role on coral photophysiology and the subsequent degree of radiative stress during coral bleaching.

Quartz tuning fork based microwave impedance microscopy.

Microwave impedance microscopy (MIM), a near-field microwave scanning probe technique, has become a powerful tool to characterize local electrical responses in solid state samples. We present the design of a new type of MIM sensor based on quartz tuning fork and electrochemically etched thin metal wires. Due to a higher aspect ratio tip and integration with tuning fork, such design achieves comparable MIM performance and enables easy self-sensing topography feedback in situations where the conventional optical feedback mechanism is not available, thus is complementary to microfabricated shielded stripline-type probes. The new design also enables stable differential mode MIM detection and multiple-frequency MIM measurements with a single sensor.

Compact Multiwavelength Brillouin Fiber Laser by Utilizing EDF as Hybrid Gain Media

We have experimentally demonstrated a compact multiwavelength Brillouin fiber laser by introducing an optical feedback mechanism in the laser configuration. A piece of erbium-doped fiber (EDF) is utilized as both linear gain media and Brillouin gain media. The influence of Brillouin pump power and wavelength, EDF length, and pump power on the laser performance are analyzed and discussed. Up to six Stokes lasing lines are generated, and the Stokes lasing lines show high temporal stability with the maximum power ripple less than 0.45 dB. By shortening the EDF length to 7 m, a dual-wavelength single-longitudinal-mode Brillouin fiber laser is achieved. Microwave signals at 11.02 and 22.04 GHz without disturbing side modes are obtained. This laser has potential applications in microwave generation, Brillouin fiber sensors, and high-speed optical communication.

Investigation of polarization switching of VCSEL subject to intensity modulated and optical feedback

This study presents the results of an experimental investigation of the polarization switching (PS) of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) using the so-called polarization-rotated optical feedback mechanism. In particular, the experiments is performed by changing the laser driving current, optical feedback (OF) level, modulation signal parameters, such as frequency, modulation-depth in order to assess their influences on the PS of VCSEL. We show that a smaller polarization angle θp is required to realize PS with increasing the level of OF. Moreover, for a fixed OF level and increased bias current a smaller θp is required to ensure PS. However, for a fixed OF and variable modulation parameters, both the frequency and modulation-depth lead to the elimination of PS over the entire range of measurement.

Lasing action assisted by long-range surface plasmons

It is shown that lasing action at subwavelength scales can be achieved in realistic plasmonic systems supporting long-range surface plasmons (LRSPPs). To this end, a general numerical framework has been developed that is able to accurately account for the full spatio-temporal lasing dynamics and the vastly different length- and time-scales featured by this class of systems. Starting from a loss compensation regime for propagating LRSPPs, it is shown how the introduction of an optical feedback mechanism induces the formation of a self-sustained laser oscillation at moderate pump intensities. The simplicity of the proposed subwavelength scale laser offers significant potential as a novel class of planar light sources in complex plasmonic circuits.

Highly directional spaser array for the red wavelength region

AbstractThe spaser offers an opportunity to achieve coherent optical sources at nanometer scales due to the extreme confinement of optical fields. However, achievement of spasers with directional propagation in the visible wavelength region remains a challenge thus far, owing to the unique optical feedback mechanism and large dissipative losses of the metal cavity. Here, we experimentally demonstrate for the first time a spaser showing highly directional emission in the visible by using a periodic subwavelength hole array perforated in a metal film, which function as plasmonic nanocavities, along with an organic laser dye to supply gain. The lasing occurs in the red wavelength region and shows a single mode. It is suggested that the optical feedback for spasing is provided by the SPP–Bloch wave, which is supported by the fact that no spasing was attained in aperiodic holes as well as in periodic holes that do not support the SPP–Bloch wave at the spasing wavelength.

Frequency, clockwise to counter clockwise and even to odd lasing mode switching based on optical feedback mechanism

Analyzing modes in a micro-ring waveguide coupled with a feedback resonator reveals that with appropriate parameters, the quality factors of two neighboring ring modes vary periodically and considerably. The effect occurs upon changing the length of the feedback waveguide, whereas the two resonant frequencies remain almost invariant with length change. On the basis of this property, four methods are theoretically demonstrated to realize laser switching: two for frequency switching, one for clockwise to counterclockwise mode switching, and one for even to odd mode switching. The analysis provides methods for bistable lasing and optical logic device design.

Optical feedback mechanisms in laser induced growth of carbon nanotube forests

We study optical feedback mechanisms occurring during growth of multi-walled carbon nanotube forests on transparent substrates. Growth is realised via laser-induced chemical vapour deposition using iron nanoparticle catalysts. In situ Raman and reflection spectroscopy employed clearly distinguish three growth phases. In the initial seed phase, growth of carbon nanostructures increases the laser absorption and this feedback enables growth of radially orientated carbon nanotubes. Understanding the laser interaction with the growing nanostructure holds the key towards controlled growth and opens up new routes to nanostructure and nanodevice design and fabrication.

Optical Bistability in an Acousto-Optic Tunable Filter (AOTF) Operating with Short Optical Pulses

In this paper we report for the first time the presence of bistability in an acoustic-optic tunable filter (AOTF) operating with ultrashort (2 ps) optical light pulses. The results for the study of bistability has shown the dependence of the hysteresis curve with the product of the coupling constant (κ) by the length of the device (ξL) and the conversion power-coupling constant factor (G). The range of bistability varies significantly with both G and with κξL parameters. The variation of κξL directly increases the size of the range of bistability hysteresis while the increase in G causes the bistability to occur at low powers. The phenomenon of optical bistability (OB) is the object of increasing interest due to its possibilities for important device applications. A bistable device is a device with a capability to generate two different outputs for a given input and the physical requirements for this are an intensity-dependence refractive index and an optical feedback mechanism.

Laser tumor treatment in oral and maxillofacial surgery

Cancer treatment is an integral part of oral and maxillofacial surgery. Oral cancer in particular is a highly prevalent neoplasm. Standard treatment for most of the tumors is radical surgery combined with stage-based neo-/adjuvant therapy. Laser surgery has become a reliable treatment option for oral cancer as well as for precancerous lesions. Widely used lasers in oral and maxillofacial tumor surgery are the CO2 laser, the Er:YAG laser, the Nd:YAG laser and the KTM laser. The use of lasers in tumor surgery has several advantages: remote application, precise cutting, hemostasis, low cicatrization, reduced postoperative pain and swelling, can be combined with endoscopic, microscopic and robotic surgery. However, laser surgery has some major drawbacks: In contrast to conventional incisions with scalpels, the surgeon gets no feedback during laser ablation. There is no depth sensation and no tissue specificity with a laser incision, increasing the risk of iatrogenic damage to nerves and major blood vessels. Future prospects may solve these problems by means of an optical feedback mechanism that provides a tissue-specific laser ablation. First attempts have been made to perform remote optical tissue differentiation. Additionally, real time optical tumor detection during laser surgery would allow for a very precise and straight forward cancer resection, enhancing organ preservation and hence the quality of life for patients with cancer in the head and neck region.

Compact Fourier transform spectrometers using FR4 platform

A novel magnetic actuated polymer optical platform is integrated into lamellar grating and Michelson type Fourier transform spectrometers. The proposed advantages of the novel platform over existing approaches, such as MEMS spectrometers, or bulky FTIR systems, include millimeter range dimensions providing a large clear aperture and enabling conventional machining for device fabrication, a controllable AC and/or DC motion both in rotational and translational modes, and real-time measurement. The platform is capable of achieving ±250 μm DC deflection (i.e., 20 cm −1 frequency resolution) in ambient pressure in the translational mode. A spectral resolution of 0.89 nm at 638 nm is demonstrated using this platform in a Michelson interferometer configuration. In addition, an overview of system integration methods including an optical position feedback mechanism is also discussed.