Electrically switchable random to photonic band-edge laser emission in chiral nematic liquid crystals

Stephen M. Morris; Damian J. Gardiner; Philip J.W. Hands; Malik M. Qasim; Timothy D. Wilkinson; Ian H. White; Harry J. Coles

doi:10.1063/1.3684804

Electrically switchable random to photonic band-edge laser emission in chiral nematic liquid crystals

Stephen M. Morris, Damian J. Gardiner, Philip J.W. Hands, Malik M. Qasim, Timothy D. Wilkinson, Ian H. White, Harry J. Coles

Vice Chancellor's Office

University of Cambridge

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

40 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

Using a chiral nematic liquid crystal with a negative dielectric anisotropy, it is possible to switch between band-edge laser emission and random laser emission with an electric field. At low frequencies (1 kHz), random laser emission is observed as a result of scattering due to electro-hydrodynamic instabilities. However, band-edge laser emission is found to occur at higher frequencies (5 kHz), where the helix is stabilized due to dielectric coupling. These results demonstrate a method by which the linewidth of the laser source can be readily controlled externally (from 4 nm to 0.5 nm) using electric fields.

Original language	English
Article number	071110
Journal	Applied Physics Letters
Volume	100
Issue number	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3684804
Publication status	Published - 13 Feb 2012

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)

Access to Document

10.1063/1.3684804

Cite this

@article{e5e5e71502f34e6a907059f7bd1f347d,

title = "Electrically switchable random to photonic band-edge laser emission in chiral nematic liquid crystals",

abstract = "Using a chiral nematic liquid crystal with a negative dielectric anisotropy, it is possible to switch between band-edge laser emission and random laser emission with an electric field. At low frequencies (1 kHz), random laser emission is observed as a result of scattering due to electro-hydrodynamic instabilities. However, band-edge laser emission is found to occur at higher frequencies (5 kHz), where the helix is stabilized due to dielectric coupling. These results demonstrate a method by which the linewidth of the laser source can be readily controlled externally (from 4 nm to 0.5 nm) using electric fields.",

author = "Morris, {Stephen M.} and Gardiner, {Damian J.} and Hands, {Philip J.W.} and Qasim, {Malik M.} and Wilkinson, {Timothy D.} and White, {Ian H.} and Coles, {Harry J.}",

year = "2012",

month = feb,

day = "13",

doi = "10.1063/1.3684804",

language = "English",

volume = "100",

journal = "Applied Physics Letters",

issn = "0003-6951",

publisher = "AIP Publishing",

number = "7",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Electrically switchable random to photonic band-edge laser emission in chiral nematic liquid crystals

AU - Morris, Stephen M.

AU - Gardiner, Damian J.

AU - Hands, Philip J.W.

AU - Qasim, Malik M.

AU - Wilkinson, Timothy D.

AU - White, Ian H.

AU - Coles, Harry J.

PY - 2012/2/13

Y1 - 2012/2/13

N2 - Using a chiral nematic liquid crystal with a negative dielectric anisotropy, it is possible to switch between band-edge laser emission and random laser emission with an electric field. At low frequencies (1 kHz), random laser emission is observed as a result of scattering due to electro-hydrodynamic instabilities. However, band-edge laser emission is found to occur at higher frequencies (5 kHz), where the helix is stabilized due to dielectric coupling. These results demonstrate a method by which the linewidth of the laser source can be readily controlled externally (from 4 nm to 0.5 nm) using electric fields.

AB - Using a chiral nematic liquid crystal with a negative dielectric anisotropy, it is possible to switch between band-edge laser emission and random laser emission with an electric field. At low frequencies (1 kHz), random laser emission is observed as a result of scattering due to electro-hydrodynamic instabilities. However, band-edge laser emission is found to occur at higher frequencies (5 kHz), where the helix is stabilized due to dielectric coupling. These results demonstrate a method by which the linewidth of the laser source can be readily controlled externally (from 4 nm to 0.5 nm) using electric fields.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84857278014&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1063/1.3684804

DO - 10.1063/1.3684804

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:84857278014

SN - 0003-6951

VL - 100

JO - Applied Physics Letters

JF - Applied Physics Letters

IS - 7

M1 - 071110

ER -

Electrically switchable random to photonic band-edge laser emission in chiral nematic liquid crystals

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this