Lasing from active optomechanical resonators

T. Czerniuk, C. Brüggemann, J. Tepper, S. Brodbeck, C. Schneider, M. Kamp, S. Höfling, B.A. Glavin, D.R. Yakovlev, A.V. Akimov, M. Bayer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Planar microcavities with distributed Bragg reflectors (DBRs) host, besides confined optical modes, also mechanical resonances due to stop bands in the phonon dispersion relation of the DBRs. These resonances have frequencies in the 10- to 100-GHz range, depending on the resonatorâ optical wavelength, with quality factors exceeding 1,000. The interaction of photons and phonons in such optomechanical systems can be drastically enhanced, opening a new route towards the manipulation of light. Here we implemented active semiconducting layers into the microcavity to obtain a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL). Thereby, three resonant excitations - photons, phonons and electrons - can interact strongly with each other providing modulation of the VCSEL laser emission: a picosecond strain pulse injected into the VCSEL excites long-living mechanical resonances therein. As a result, modulation of the lasing intensity at frequencies up to 40â €‰GHz is observed. From these findings, prospective applications of active optomechanical resonators integrated into nanophotonic circuits may emerge.
Original languageEnglish
Article number4038
Number of pages6
JournalNature Communications
Volume5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 10 Jul 2014

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Lasing from active optomechanical resonators'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this