Lasing in Photonic Crystals based on Dye-Doped Holographic Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystal Reflection Gratings

摘要

We describe the observation of lasing in photonic crystals (PCs) based on a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) reflection grating, which has a periodic structure of nano-sized (< 200 nm) LC droplets/polymer in a film. It is fabricated using two counter propagation laser beams similar to those used in standard holography. The structure has a periodicity in the range of optical wavelengths, and reflects light selectively governed by Bragg reflection. When doped with a laser dye whose emission spectrum overlaps the reflection spectrum of the grating, the PDLC reflection grating can be lased at the band edges of the reflection band gap.