Single-mode laser tuning from cholesteric elastomers using a "notch" band-gap configuration.
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.
Serra
Francesca
F
Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Matranga
Mario Ariosto
MA
Ji
Yan
Y
Terentjev
Eugene M
EM
D020724:Elastomers / Q000737:chemistry*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D007536:Isomerism; D007834:Lasers; D050866:Liquid Crystals / Q000737:chemistry*; D012031:Refractometry / Q000295:instrumentation*
D020724:Elastomers