Random lasers with coherent feedback

Author

Cao, Hui ; Xu, Junying Y. ; Ling, Yong ; Burin, Alexander L. ; Seeling, Eric W. ; Liu, Xiang ; Chang, Robert P.H.

Author_Institution

Mater. Res. Center, Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL, USA

Volume

9

Issue

1

fYear

2003

Firstpage

111

Lastpage

119

Abstract

We review our recent work on lasing in active random media. Light scattering, which had been regarded as detrimental to lasing action for a long time, actually provided coherent feedback for lasing. The fundamental difference and transition between a random laser with coherent feedback and a random laser with incoherent feedback were illustrated. We also trapped laser light in micrometer-sized random media. The trapping was caused by disorder-induced scattering and interference. This nontraditional way of light confinement has important applications to microlasers.

Keywords

dye lasers; laser feedback; lasers; light coherence; light interference; light scattering; micro-optics; random processes; reviews; solid lasers; PMMA; ZnO; ZnO nanoparticles; active random media; coherent feedback; disorder-induced scattering; incoherent feedback; interference; laser light trapping; light confinement; light scattering; microlasers; micrometer-sized random media; polymethyl methacrylate sheets; random lasers; rhodamine 640 perchlorate dye; Interference; Laser feedback; Laser theory; Laser transitions; Light scattering; Optical feedback; Optical scattering; Particle scattering; Resonance light scattering; Semiconductor lasers;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1077-260X

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/JSTQE.2002.807975

Filename

1193082