Low-threshold microlaser in a high-Q asymmetrical microcavity

Demonstration of intracellular real-time molecular quantification via FRET-enhanced optical microcavity

Single cell analysis is crucial for elucidating cellular diversity and heterogeneity as well as for medical diagnostics operating at the ultimate detection limit. Although superbly sensitive biosensors have been developed using the strongly enhanced evanescent fields provided by optical microcavities, real-time quantification of intracellular molecules remains challenging due to the extreme low quantity and limitations of the current techniques. Here, we introduce an active-mode optical microcavity sensing stage with enhanced sensitivity that operates via Förster resonant energy transferring (FRET) mechanism. The mutual effects of optical microcavity and FRET greatly enhances the sensing performance by four orders of magnitude compared to pure Whispering gallery mode (WGM) microcavity sensing system. We demonstrate distinct sensing mechanism of FRET-WGM from pure WGM. Predicted lasing wavelengths of both donor and acceptor by theoretical calculations are in perfect agreement with the experimental data. The proposed sensor enables quantitative molecular analysis at single cell resolution, and real-time monitoring of intracellular molecules over extended periods while maintaining the cell viability. By achieving high sensitivity at single cell level, our approach provides a path toward FRET-enhanced real-time quantitative analysis of intracellular molecules.

Low-threshold and controllable nanolaser based on quasi-BIC supported by an all-dielectric eccentric nanoring structure

High-Q factor can enhance the interaction between light and matter, which is an important parameter to decrease the threshold of nanolasers. Here, we theoretically propose an eccentric nanoring structure with a high and controllable Q factor to realize a low-threshold and controllable nanolaser by amplifying the quasi-bound states in the continuum (quasi-BIC). The designed nanostructure supports a quasi-BIC because of the symmetry protection-breaking of the nanostructure. The quasi-BIC has a very high Q factor of about 9.6×10⁴ and can also be adjusted by changing structural parameters. We use the energy level diagram of the four-level two-electron system to study the lasing action of the eccentric nanoring structure. The results show that the nanolaser has a relatively low threshold of about 6.46 μJ/cm². Furthermore, the lasing behavior can be tuned by controlling the structural parameters of the eccentric circular ring structure.

Gas identification in high-Q microbubble resonators

A new, to the best of our knowledge, experimental mechanism is reported to realize the identification of gas by a microcavity sensor. Instead of measuring the change in the environment refractive index or absorption, the gas is detected indirectly and indentified by using the thermo-optics effect of a high-quality-factor microbubble resonator. When passing gas through the microbubble, the pressure induces a geometric deformation and thus an observable frequency shift, and the thermal bistability response varies due to the higher heat dissipation by gas molecules. With the two output parameters, we can unambiguously distinguish gas with different molecular weights, e.g., He, N₂, and CO₂. Our demonstration opens a new avenue of microcavity sensing by using indirect interaction between light and matter, realizing a multiple-parameter sensing approach for gas or solvent identification.

Free-space coupling to symmetric high-Q terahertz whispering-gallery mode resonators

We report on the coupling of a free-space Gaussian beam to symmetric high-quality (Q) whispering-gallery mode resonators (WGMRs) for terahertz (THz) radiation. We achieve very high excitation efficiencies up to 50% to THz WGMs with a Q-factor of 1.5×10⁴ at 0.7 THz. The high coupling efficiencies have been realized by leveraging a Gaussian beam with a nearly diffraction-limited focal spot, as well as readily available low-loss, high-index silicon spheres with diameters comparable to the wavelength. The results convincingly underline the viability of free-space coupling in the THz frequency range.

Free-space coupling efficiency in a high-Q deformed optical microcavity

The free-space coupling technique provides a promising means to excite high-Q whispering gallery modes in deformed microcavities, but the precise quantification of the coupling efficiency remains challenging because of the non-Lorentzian spectral lineshape in the transmission and the partial collection in emission. Here, we experimentally identify the free-space coupling efficiency by measuring the threshold of stimulated Raman scattering in a slightly deformed microcavity. The measured efficiency is up to 30%. Furthermore, the dependence of the coupling efficiency on the incident angle is obtained by focusing the laser beam on the microcavity periphery, which is consistent with the prediction of the mode field distribution. Finally, it is experimentally demonstrated that free-space coupling efficiencies remain high even when the focusing beam has been translated several micrometers, both horizontally and vertically.

Ringing phenomenon based whispering-gallery-mode sensing

Highly sensitive sensing is one of the most important applications of whispering-gallery-mode (WGM) microresonators, which is usually accomplished through a tunable continuous-wave laser sweeping over a whispering-gallery mode with the help of a fiber taper in a relative slow speed. It is known that if a tunable continuous-wave laser sweeps over a high quality whispering-gallery mode in a fast speed, a ringing phenomenon will be observed. The ringing phenomenon in WGM microresonators is mainly used to measure the Q factors and mode-coupling strengths. Here we experimentally demonstrate that the WGM sensing can be achieved based on the ringing phenomenon. This kind of sensing is accomplished in a much shorter time and is immune to the noise caused by the laser wavelength drift.

Stand-off biodetection with free-space coupled asymmetric microsphere cavities

Asymmetric microsphere resonant cavities (ARCs) allow for free-space coupling to high quality (Q) whispering gallery modes (WGMs) while exhibiting highly directional light emission, enabling WGM resonance measurements in the far-field. These remarkable characteristics make "stand-off" biodetection in which no coupling device is required in near-field contact with the resonator possible. Here we show asymmetric microsphere resonators fabricated from optical fibers which support dynamical tunneling to excite high-Q WGMs, and demonstrate free-space coupling to modes in an aqueous environment. We characterize the directional emission by fluorescence imaging, demonstrate coupled mode effects due to free space coupling by dynamical tunneling, and detect adsorption kinetics of a protein in aqueous solution. Based on our approach, new, more robust WGM biodetection schemes involving microfluidics and in-vivo measurements can be designed.

Three-dimensional organic microlasers with low lasing thresholds fabricated by multiphoton and UV lithography

Cuboid-shaped organic microcavities containing a pyrromethene laser dye and supported upon a photonic crystal have been investigated as an approach to reducing the lasing threshold of the cavities. Multiphoton lithography facilitated fabrication of the cuboid cavities directly on the substrate or on the decoupling structure, while similar structures were fabricated on the substrate by UV lithography for comparison. Significant reduction of the lasing threshold by a factor of ~30 has been observed for cavities supported by the photonic crystal relative to those fabricated on the substrate. The lasing mode spectra of the cuboid microresonators provide strong evidence showing that the lasing modes are localized in the horizontal plane, with the shape of an inscribed diamond.

Low-threshold whispering-gallery-mode microlasers fabricated in a Nd:glass substrate by three-dimensional femtosecond laser micromachining

We report on fabrication of whispering-gallery-mode microlasers in a Nd:glass chip by femtosecond laser three-dimensional micromachining. The main fabrication procedures include the fabrication of freestanding microdisks supported by thin pillars by femtosecond laser ablation of the glass substrate immersed in water, followed by CO2 laser annealing for surface smoothing. The quality (Q) factor of the fabricated microcavity is measured to be 1.065×10(6). Lasing is observed at a pump threshold as low as ~69 μW at room temperature with a continuous-wave laser diode operating at 780 nm. This technique allows for fabrication of microcavities of high Q factors in various dielectric materials, such as glasses and crystals.

Theory of free space coupling to high-Q whispering gallery modes

Theoretical study of free space coupling to high-Q whispering gallery modes (WGMs) are presented in circular and deformed microcavities. Both analytical solutions and asymptotic formulas are derived for a circular cavity. The coupling efficiencies at different coupling regimes for cylindrical incoming wave are discussed, and the maximum efficiency is estimated for the practical Gaussian beam excitation. In the case of a deformed cavity, the coupling efficiency can be higher than the circular cavity if the excitation beam can match the intrinsic emission which can be tuned by adjusting the degree of deformation. Employing an abstract model of slightly deformed cavity, we find that the asymmetric and peak like line shapes instead of the Lorentz-shape dip are universal in transmission spectra due to multi-wave interference, and the coupling efficiency cannot be estimated from the absolute depth of the dip. Our results provide guidelines for free space coupling in experiments, suggesting that the high-Q asymmetric resonator cavities (ARCs) can be efficiently excited through free space which will stimulate further experiments and applications of WGMs based on free space coupling.

Controlling deformation in a high quality factor silica microsphere toward single directional emission

High-Q deformed silica microsphere cavities are fabricated by short CO(2) laser pulses, where the deformation is well controlled by adjusting the intensity and number of pulses. Using this method, directional emission from whispering-gallery mode (WGM) with a high quality factor of 10(7) in these microspheres is achieved, and a transition from two-directional to single-directional emission is observed. Such concentrated directional emission and high-Q of WGMs show high potential for future studies of the chaotic ray dynamics in deformed microcavity and cavity quantum electrodynamics and optomechanics.

Perpendicular coupler for whispering-gallery resonators

In this Letter, we report on a perpendicular coupler (PC) for whispering-gallery resonators; it is a near field waveguide optimized for high coupling efficiency. The PC provides highly efficient tunneling coupling between the waveguide and microresonator without the need of a phase matching condition, and saves space for integration components. Compared to the Lorentz-shape in the transmission spectrum of the parallel coupler, the reflection spectrum of the PC shows an asymmetric Fano-shape near resonance. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the collection efficiency can be enhanced by near field scatterers, with a maximal efficiency of about 75%. Our simulations show that the PC is not sensitive to most parameters (including the refractive index of the waveguide), which makes the PC optimal for the application of whispering-gallery modes.

Ultra-low-threshold Er:Yb sol-gel microlaser on silicon

Ultra-low threshold lasers which operate in the telecommunications band and which can be integrated with other CMOS compatible elements have numerous applications in satellite communications, biochemical detection and optical computing. To achieve sub-mW lasing thresholds, it is necessary to optimize both the gain medium and the pump method. One of the most promising methods is to use rare-earth ions in a co- or tri-dopant configuration, where the lasing of the primary dopant is enhanced by the secondary one, thus improving the efficiency of the overall system. Here, we demonstrate an Erbium:Ytterbium co-doped microcavity-based laser which is lithographically fabricated on a silicon substrate. The quality factor and pump threshold are experimentally determined for a series of erbium and ytterbium doping concentrations, verifying the inter-dependent relationship between the two dopants. The lasing threshold of the optimized device is 4.2 microW.