title: A low-threshold, high-efficiency microfluidic waveguide laser.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, 12 Oxford Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.
authors.forename: Dmitri V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Vezenov
authors.forename: Brian T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Mayers
authors.forename: Richard S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Conroy
authors.forename: George M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Whitesides
authors.forename: Preston T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Snee
authors.forename: Yinthai
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Daniel G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Nocera
authors.forename: Moungi G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Bawendi
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D007834:Lasers; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*