title: Single-mode laser tuning from cholesteric elastomers using a "notch" band-gap configuration.
abstract: The interest in the application of cholesteric liquid crystals for tunable lasers has risen in the past few years. Here, we want to obtain a mechanically tunable laser device using cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) elastomers as resonant cavity mirrors in a three-layer configuration, which includes in between an isotropic layer incorporating a laser dye as active medium. The transmission band-gap of the two CLC elastomers was shifted one with respect to the other in order to create a defect ("notch") in the middle of the band-gap which allowed a single-mode lasing from the system. The wavelength of the laser could be changed by mechanical tuning of the rubbery device.
authors.affiliation: Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Serra
authors.forename: Mario Ariosto
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Matranga
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Eugene M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Terentjev
mesh_terms: D020724:Elastomers / Q000737:chemistry*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D007536:Isomerism; D007834:Lasers; D050866:Liquid Crystals / Q000737:chemistry*; D012031:Refractometry / Q000295:instrumentation*
chemical_list: D020724:Elastomers