A low-threshold, high-efficiency microfluidic waveguide laser.
This communication describes a long (1 cm), laser-pumped, liquid core-liquid cladding (L2) waveguide laser. This device provides a simple, high intensity, tunable light source for microfludic applications. Using a core solution of 2 mM rhodamine 640 perchlorate, optically pumped by a frequency-doubled Nd:YAG laser, we found that the threshold for lasing was as low as 22 muJ (16-ns pulse length) and had a slope efficiency up to 20%. The output wavelength was tunable over a 20-nm range by changing the ratio of solvent components (dimethyl sulfoxide and methanol) in the liquid core.
Vezenov
Dmitri V
DV
Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, 12 Oxford Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.
Mayers
Brian T
BT
Conroy
Richard S
RS
Whitesides
George M
GM
Snee
Preston T
PT
Chan
Yinthai
Y
Nocera
Daniel G
DG
Bawendi
Moungi G
MG
D004867:Equipment Design; D007834:Lasers; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*