Parity-time–symmetric microring lasers

The ability to control the modes oscillating within a laser resonator is of fundamental importance. In general, the presence of competing modes can be detrimental to beam quality and spectral purity, thus leading to spatial as well as temporal fluctuations in the emitted radiation. We show that by h...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 2014-11, Vol.346 (6212), p.975-978
Main Authors: Hodaei, Hossein, Miri, Mohammad-Ali, Heinrich, Matthias, Christodoulides, Demetrios N., Khajavikhan, Mercedeh
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Beamforming
Beams (radiation)
Broken symmetry
Canyons
Devices
Emission
Gain
Joining
Laser beams
Laser modes
Lasers
Lasing
Optical resonance
Photonics
Pumps
Radiation
Resonance
Resonators
Symmetry
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Summary:The ability to control the modes oscillating within a laser resonator is of fundamental importance. In general, the presence of competing modes can be detrimental to beam quality and spectral purity, thus leading to spatial as well as temporal fluctuations in the emitted radiation. We show that by harnessing notions from parity-time (PT) symmetry, stable single–longitudinal mode operation can be readily achieved in a system of coupled microring lasers. The selective breaking of PT symmetry can be used to systematically enhance the maximum attainable output power in the desired mode. This versatile concept is inherently self-adapting and facilitates mode selectivity over a broad bandwidth without the need for other additional intricate components. Our experimental findings provide the possibility to develop synthetic optical devices and structures with enhanced functionality.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.1258480