Single-Mode Polymer Ridge Waveguide Integration of Organic Thin-Film Laser

Abstract

Organic thin-film lasers (OLAS) are promising optical sources when it comes to flexibility and small-scale manufacturing. These properties are required especially for integrating organic thin-film lasers into single-mode waveguides. Optical sensors based on single-mode ridge waveguide systems, especially for Lab-on-a-chip (LoC) applications, usually need external laser sources, free-space optics, and coupling structures, which suffer from coupling losses and mechanical stabilization problems. In this paper, we report on the first successful integration of organic thin-film lasers directly into polymeric single-mode ridge waveguides forming a monolithic laser device for LoC applications. The integrated waveguide laser is achieved by three production steps: nanoimprint of Bragg gratings onto the waveguide cladding material EpoClad, UV-Lithography of the waveguide core material EpoCore, and thermal evaporation of the OLAS material Alq3:DCM2 on top of the single-mode waveguides and the Bragg grating area. Here, the laser light is analyzed out of the waveguide facet with optical spectroscopy presenting single-mode characteristics even with high pump energy densities. This kind of integrated waveguide laser is very suitable for photonic LoC applications based on intensity and interferometric sensors where single-mode operation is required.

On-chip two-dimensional material-based waveguide-integrated photodetectors

“…By appropriately designing the dimensions and structural parameters of the ridge waveguide, it becomes easier to achieve single-mode transmission. 84,85 These simple waveguide structures can be fabricated using standard micro-and nano-fabrication techniques such as photolithography and electron beam exposure, making them suitable for mass production and large-scale manufacturing. They often exhibit low coupling losses and allow for effective manipulation and optimization through adjustments in their size and geometry.…”

Editorial on Special Issue “Modern Applications in Optics and Photonics: From Sensing and Analytics to Communication”

“…Furthermore, two research papers of this Special Issue can be categorized as relating to laser technology. For instance,Čehovski et al [14] report on the integration of organic thinfilm lasers directly into polymeric single-mode ridge waveguides forming a monolithic laser device and obtaining single-mode characteristics even with high pump energy densities and thus demonstrating its suitability for lab-on-a-chip (LoC) applications. In another research paper by Huang et al [15], a sub-nanosecond Nd:YVO4 laser system at 1 kHz repetition rate without Stimulated Raman Scattering (SRS) with high peak power and high beam quality is reported with a maximum output energy of 65.4 mJ and a pulse duration of 600 ps which corresponds to a pulse peak power of 109 MW.…”

Organic Dye-Doped PMMA Lasing

“…Secondly, the gain material can either be solution-processed (e.g., spin-coating and dip-coating) or vacuum deposited on the grating structure [ 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 ]. The lasing wavelength of a DFB thin-film laser can be easily tuned by applying electrical control [ 19 ], modulating the thickness of the active layer [ 20 , 21 ], stretching the active film [ 22 , 23 , 24 ], designing a wedge-shaped film [ 12 , 25 ], applying different grating periods [ 26 , 27 ] and using a liquid crystal [ 28 , 29 ].…”