All-Color Plasmonic Nanolasers with Ultralow Thresholds: Autotuning Mechanism for Single-Mode Lasing

Abstract

We report on the first demonstration of broadband tunable, single-mode plasmonic nanolasers (spasers) emitting in the full visible spectrum. These nanolasers are based on a single metal-oxide-semiconductor nanostructure platform comprising of InGaN/GaN semiconductor nanorods supported on an Al2O3-capped epitaxial Ag film. In particular, all-color lasing in subdiffraction plasmonic resonators is achieved via a novel mechanism based on a property of weak size dependence inherent in spasers. Moreover, we have successfully reduced the continuous-wave (CW) lasing thresholds to ultrasmall values for all three primary colors and have clearly demonstrated the possibility of "thresholdless" lasing for the blue plasmonic nanolaser.

Mode Volume, Energy Transfer, and Spaser Threshold in Plasmonic Systems with Gain

“…First observed in gold nanoparticles (NP) coated by dyedoped silics shells [4], spasing action was reported in hybrid plasmonic waveguides [5], semiconductor quantum dots on metal film [6,12], plasmonic nanocavities and nanocavity arrays [7-10, 13, 14], and metallic NP and nanorods [4,11], and more recently, carbon-based structures [16,17]. Small spaser size well below the diffraction limit gives rise to wealth of applications [18].…”

Theoretical study of plasmonic lasing in junctions with many molecules

“…These quantum emitters should, in turn be excited, e.g., by optical pumping [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] or by electrical injection [13,14]. In Ref.…”

Lithographically Defined, Room Temperature Low Threshold Subwavelength Red-Emitting Hybrid Plasmonic Lasers

“…19,20 Since the first experimental demonstration of hybrid plasmonic lasers by Oulton et al, 20 the emission wavelengths of plasmonic lasers have spanned from 370 nm to 650 nm, and the optically pumped lasing threshold of these devices at room temperature has decreased from 2 GW/cm 2 down to 3 MW/cm 2 . [21][22][23][24][25] Nevertheless, the subwavelength hybrid plasmonic lasers reported thus far use the natural growth geometries of nanowires, nanorods, and nanosquares. [20][21][22][23]25 Furthermore, control over the position and the size of the devices needs to be addressed before hybrid surface plasmoinc lasers can be used in industry-relevant applications.…”

“…[21][22][23][24][25] Nevertheless, the subwavelength hybrid plasmonic lasers reported thus far use the natural growth geometries of nanowires, nanorods, and nanosquares. [20][21][22][23]25 Furthermore, control over the position and the size of the devices needs to be addressed before hybrid surface plasmoinc lasers can be used in industry-relevant applications.…”