Random Raman lasing

TL;DR

This paper reports the first experimental demonstration of Raman lasing in a highly scattering random medium, revealing new possibilities for spectroscopic analysis and biomedical imaging in turbid environments.

Contribution

It introduces the first experimental evidence of Raman lasing in a three-dimensional random medium, opening new research avenues in non-linear light propagation in scattering media.

Findings

First demonstration of Raman lasing in random media

Potential for remote chemical identification using Raman sources

New insights into non-linear effects in turbid media

Abstract

Propagation of light in a highly scattering medium is among the most fascinating optical effect that everyone experiences on an everyday basis and possesses a number of fundamental problems which have yet to be solved. Conventional wisdom suggests that non-linear effects do not play a significant role because the diffusive nature of scattering acts to spread the intensity, dramatically weakening these effects. We demonstrate the first experimental evidence of lasing on a Raman transition in a bulk three-dimensional random media. From a practical standpoint, Raman transitions allow for spectroscopic analysis of the chemical makeup of the sample. A random Raman laser could serve as a bright Raman source allowing for remote, chemically specific, identification of powders and aerosols. Fundamentally, the first demonstration of this new light source opens up an entire new field of study into non-linear light propagation in turbid media, with the most notable application related to non-invasive biomedical imaging.