Trends in microdisk laser research and linear optical modelling

Abstract

Research into microdisk lasers demonstrates new achievements both in the technology and in the associated physical effects and applications. Melting and rounding of the disk edge boosts the Q-factors due to improved surface smoothness. In-plane cavity shape is widely used as a design instrument. Optimal shaping of pumped area lowers the threshold power. Photonic molecules made of several microdisks as "photonic atoms" show lasing at several closely spaced frequencies. A microdisk with a single quantum dot as an active region is considered as the most promising system for realisation of a single photon emitter necessary for quantum computing. These new effects and devices can be simulated with accurate numerical techniques, developed recently for "warm-cavity" linear modelling, that are able to bring a new vision of the physics of lasing.

Low-threshold lasing eigenmodes of an infinite periodic chain of quantum wires

“…Although there are numerous publications studying transmission and reflection of plane waves by periodic grids of passive dielectric and metallic wires (for instance, see [1][2][3]), it looks like the associated eigenproblems have so far escaped a detailed analysis. We study such eigenproblems, for two alternative polarizations, in the modified formulation adapted to characterize the lasing [4]. By introducing the active refractive index of the wires, we obtain the possibility to determine the spectra and the associated thresholds of lasing for the eigenmodes.…”

“…The values of α and γ are real and positive; the former is the refractive index and the latter is the material gain that appears in the presence of a pump. For detailed discussion of the modified eigenproblem approach in the linear modeling of microcavity lasers see [4]. It has been already applied to the threshold analysis of twodimensional entirely and partially active circular microcavities in [6,7], and to one-dimensional quantum-well equipped VCSEL-type layered cavities in [8].…”

Characteristic equations for the lasing modes of infinite periodic chain of quantum wires

“…It should satisfy the Helmholtz equation with different coefficients: k outside. Here, α is the refractive index and γ is the material gain which appears in the presence of pumping -see [3] for detailed discussion of the LEP approach in the linear modelling of microcavity lasers. Note also that it had been applied in the earlier papers [4,5] to the threshold analysis in the 2-D circular microcavities and in [6] to the similar analysis of the 1-D VCSEL-type layered cavity containing an active region.…”

Microcavity lasers on polymer materials: Boundary integral equation modeling and experiments

“…The review papers [4][5][6] contain references to the studies on the modes of the non-circular cavities, which can provide better directionality. This included fully convex contours like ellipse, stadium, cut circle, various regular polygons, and others, and also partially concave "notched" contours" [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16].…”