Lasers are crucial elements in the field of photonic integrated circuits, enabling various applications such as optical communications, chip-scale solid-state LIDAR, and quantum information processing. In order to meet the growing demand for these technologies, there is a strong need for lasers that possess ultra-low threshold and compact size. Such lasers offer significant advantages in terms of efficiency, portability, and integration into small-scale devices.
To achieve these desirable characteristics, researchers have been focusing on a specific approach. The key lies in effectively confining light and enhancing its interaction with matter. This is accomplished by incorporating gain materials into optical cavities that are either few- or sub-wavelength in size. These cavities are engineered to exhibit high quality (Q) factor and/or possess a small mode volume (V-mode), thereby facilitating enhanced light-matter interaction.
By confining the light within these specially designed cavities, the laser’s threshold can be significantly reduced. The threshold refers to the minimum energy required for the laser to start emitting coherent light. With an ultra-low threshold, the laser can operate at lower power levels, reducing energy consumption and enabling more efficient operation.
Moreover, the compact size of these lasers is of paramount importance. The ability to miniaturize lasers allows for their integration into small-scale devices, bringing about numerous benefits. For instance, in the field of optical communications, compact lasers enable the development of faster, more efficient data transfer systems. Similarly, in chip-scale solid-state LIDAR applications, the small size of lasers enables the creation of lightweight and portable LIDAR systems, which find applications in autonomous vehicles, robotics, and environmental sensing.
Additionally, the advancements in ultra-low threshold, compact lasers also hold great promise for quantum information processing. Quantum technologies require precise control over the behavior of individual particles of light, known as photons. By harnessing the properties of ultra-low threshold lasers, researchers can manipulate and process photons with high precision, paving the way for applications such as quantum computing, quantum cryptography, and quantum sensing.
In conclusion, the development of lasers with ultra-low threshold and compact size plays a vital role in advancing various fields of technology. By exploiting the principles of light confinement and enhanced light-matter interaction, researchers are able to create lasers that offer improved efficiency, portability, and integration capabilities. These advancements have significant implications for optical communications, chip-scale solid-state LIDAR, and quantum information processing, driving innovation and opening up new possibilities for future technologies.
