Optically pumped mirrorless lasing. A review. Part I. Random lasing

Abstract

Abstract. Currently optically pumped mirrorless lasing is represented by three distinct branches, which concern lasing in different types of the gain media: optically random and photonic media, and microcavities. This article is a first part of our review on optically pumped mirrorless lasing, with the random lasing in scattering media being a main subject. The other mirrorless lasing mechanisms will be addressed in the second part. Considering light localization as a key function of the feedback, we discuss possible mechanisms for the light localization in the scattering media. Special attention is paid to the Anderson light localization. The other mechanisms of the light localization in the scattering media concern high Q-resonances in local microresonators, which exist due to structural inhomogeneities in the scattered media. Applications of the random lasers are shortly reviewed.

Properties and Applications of Random Lasers as Emerging Light Sources and Optical Sensors: A Review

“…A more detailed explanation and comparison of SF, SL/ASE and SR refers to [ 40 ]. The RL is distinguished from the rest as the RL is mirror-less but not feedback-less [ 41 , 42 ]. The random medium induces the essential feedback for light amplification through the multiple scattering, whereas the features and disorders of the random medium can be represented by the RL emission properties [ 42 ].…”

“…In the last two decades, several review articles have provided an extensive insight of the physics [ 41 , 42 , 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 ] and potential applications of RLs [ 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 , 73 ]. Along with a deeper physical understanding and rapid development of new materials and new findings [ 74 , 75 , 76 ], an updated review article seems in high demand.…”

An Ambipolar BODIPY Derivative for a White Exciplex OLED and Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Laser toward Multifunctional Devices

“…Modern laser resonators are produced with high quality optical elements and require precision alignment, resulting in a bottleneck in production. Recently, significant effort has been focused on developing lasers utilizing mirrorless principles of optical feedback. , One of these mirrorless feedback mechanisms is selective light reflection in cholesteric liquid crystals (ChLC), which under special conditions act as 1D photonic crystals . Light emission from a fluorescent dye dissolved in cholesteric liquid crystals is inhibited within the spectral range of the photonic band gap (PhBG), which is the selective reflection band for a ChLC, but leaks as strongly amplified laser radiation , at the PhBG edges.…”

Recent progress and prospects of random lasers using advanced materials

“…Achievement of gain in lasers is complicated as well as a difficult task. Regarding mirrorless lasing, gain media mainly falls into the following categories: random optical media, photonic media, and microcavities 38 . Laser dyes and QDs are the most popularly used gain materials.…”

“…Regarding mirrorless lasing, gain media mainly falls into the following categories: random optical media, photonic media, and microcavities. 38 Laser dyes and QDs are the most popularly used gain materials. In RLs, some experiments utilise semiconductors (ZnO, [39][40][41] ZnS, [42][43][44] GaAs 45,46 etc.)…”