Enabling Lasing Action in Hybrid Atomic–Nanophotonic Integrated Structures

Abstract

The integration of neutral atoms with nanophotonic structures offer significant potential as a versatile platform to explore fundamental light-matter interactions as well as realizing novel quantum-optical devices. Here, we investigate the possibility of creating low-threshold microscale lasers in hybrid systems based on integrating room-temperature atomic gases with both dielectric and metallic nanophotonic systems. We particularly focus on studying two different devices resulting from incorporating an optically-pumped Rb-ethane mixture in a dielectric ring resonator and a plasmonic lattice. We show in both cases the combination of the optical gain provided by the atomic vapor, along with the unique field-confinement properties of nanophotonic structures, enables generating of coherent radiation, i.e. laser light, at low power levels. In addition, we provide general design guidelines for these hybrid nano-lasers and an efficient density matrixbased formalism for studying these systems. Our results demonstrate a unique route towards small foot-print, highly efficient, and fast lasers, which paves the way towards the development of a whole new class of active nanophotonic and metamaterial systems.

On‐Chip Light–Atom Interactions: Physics and Applications

“…Another method for generating laser is to add optically pumped Rb–ethane mixture into dielectric ring resonator and a plasma lattice. [ 179 ] This is the first study of lasing action in such active hybrid systems, demonstrating a unique route toward laser with a small footprint as well as high efficiency and speed.…”

Exploring Time‐Resolved Multiphysics of Active Plasmonic Systems with Experiment‐Based Gain Models

“…Among them, due to the accurate treatment of quantum properties of the gain medium, the time‐domain multiphysics approach is viewed as the most powerful method, in which a finite‐difference, finite‐volume, or a finite element time‐domain method is coupled to a multi‐level system through auxiliary differential equations . Using a classical FDTD scheme, this approach has been applied to investigate lasing dynamics, and interpret lasing experiments . Recently, the Maxwell‐Bloch‐Langevin (MBL) approach has been introduced and broadly used by the Hess group to account for the spatial and temporal fluctuations providing a more accurate means of simulating amplified spontaneous emission.…”