Unidirectional Lasing from Template-Stripped Two-Dimensional Plasmonic Crystals

Ankun Yang, Zhongyang Li, Michael P. Knudson, Alexander J. Hryn, Weijia Wang, Koray Aydin, Teri W. Odom*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

93 Scopus citations

Abstract

Plasmon lasers support cavity structures with sizes below that of the diffraction limit. However, most plasmon-based lasers show bidirectional lasing emission or emission with limited far-field directionality and large radiative losses. Here, we report unidirectional lasing from ultrasmooth, template-stripped two-dimensional (2D) plasmonic crystals. Optically pumped 2D plasmonic crystals (Au or Ag) surrounded by dye molecules exhibited lasing in a single emission direction and their lasing wavelength could be tuned by modulating the dielectric environment. We found that 2D plasmonic crystals were an ideal architecture to screen how nanocavity unit-cell structure, metal material, and gain media affected the lasing response. We discovered that template-stripped strong plasmonic materials with cylindrical posts were an optimal cavity design for a unidirectional laser operating at room temperature.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)11582-11588
Number of pages7
JournalACS nano
Volume9
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 11 2015

Keywords

  • plasmon nanolaser
  • plasmonic crystals
  • spaser
  • template stripping
  • unidirectional emission
  • wavelength tunability

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Engineering(all)
  • Physics and Astronomy(all)
  • Materials Science(all)

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