Resonantly Trapped Bound State in the Continuum Laser

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a room-temperature bound state in the continuum laser that uses resonant interference to trap optical modes with high quality factors, enabling new applications in imaging and quantum communication.

Contribution

It introduces a novel cavity design based on symmetry-compatible mode interference that achieves high-Q modes within the radiation continuum at room temperature.

Findings

Successful experimental demonstration of BIC laser at room temperature

High quality factors achieved through destructive interference

Potential applications in imaging and quantum technologies

Abstract

Cavities play a fundamental role in wave phenomena from quantum mechanics to electromagnetism and dictate the spatiotemporal physics of lasers. In general, they are constructed by closing all "doors" through which waves can escape. We report, at room temperature, a bound state in the continuum laser that harnesses optical modes residing in the radiation continuum but nonetheless may possess arbitrarily high quality factors. These counterintuitive cavities are based on resonantly trapped symmetry-compatible modes that destructively interfere. Our experimental demonstration opens exciting avenues towards coherent sources with intriguing topological properties for optical trapping, biological imaging, and quantum communication.