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

44 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)

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10.1063/1.3684804

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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",

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doi = "10.1063/1.3684804",

language = "English",

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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 - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/84857278014

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

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