A Low-Threshold, High-Efficiency Microfluidic Waveguide Laser

• Published in: Journal of the American Chemical Society Vol. 127; no. 25; pp. 8952 - 8953
• Main Authors: Vezenov, Dmitri V, Mayers, Brian T, Conroy, Richard S, Whitesides, George M, Snee, Preston T, Chan, Yinthai, Nocera, Daniel G, Bawendi, Moungi G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 29-06-2005
• Subjects: Analytical chemistry; Applied sciences; Chemistry; Circuit properties; Electric, optical and optoelectronic circuits; Electronics; Equipment Design; Exact sciences and technology; General, instrumentation; Integrated optics. Optical fibers and wave guides; Lasers; Microfluidic Analytical Techniques - instrumentation; Microfluidic Analytical Techniques - methods; Optical and optoelectronic circuits; Laminar flow; Energetic efficiency; Performance characteristic; Fluidic devices; Optical waveguide; Microminiaturization; Amplified spontaneous emission; Waveguide laser
• ISSN: 0002-7863; 1520-5126
• DOI: 10.1021/ja0517421

This communication describes a long (1 cm), laser-pumped, liquid core−liquid cladding (L2) waveguide laser. This device provides a simple, high intensity, tunable light source for microfludic applications. Using a core solution of 2 mM rhodamine 640 perchlorate, optically pumped by a frequency-doubled Nd:YAG laser, we found that the threshold for lasing was as low as 22 μJ (16-ns pulse length) and had a slope efficiency up to 20%. The output wavelength was tunable over a 20-nm range by changing the ratio of solvent components (dimethyl sulfoxide and methanol) in the liquid core.