Ultra-compact beam steering nanolasers

TL;DR

This paper introduces a miniaturized, integrated nanolaser device capable of simultaneous light generation and beam steering using phase change materials and bound states in the continuum, enabling dynamic control in a compact form.

Contribution

The work presents a novel, ultra-compact nanolaser with integrated beam steering and wavelength tunability through phase change materials, overcoming limitations of traditional methods.

Findings

Device size of only 25 μm

Achieves 33° beam steering

Wavelength tunability up to 296 nm

Abstract

The miniaturization and integration of beam steering devices have consistently been the focus of the field. Conventional methods alter the eigenmode of the optical cavity by regulating the refractive index. Due to the weak nonlinear effect of the optical system, the device must be sufficiently large to achieve sufficient light modulation. The effective method for miniaturizing beam steering devices currently in use is based on metasurfaces. However, this type of device necessitates the input of a laser source, which precludes the simultaneous generation and control of light in a single device. Here we propose a miniaturized beam steering device that employs mode selection between different bound states in the continuum (BIC) states through phase change material. The device is capable of simultaneously achieving both light generation and beam steering (33{\deg}) in a single device with a size of only 25 {\mu}m and with a low threshold of 8.9 kW cm-2. Furthermore,it is possible to achieve a significant degree of dynamic wavelength tunability, with a range extending up to 296 nm. This method achieves high-efficient regulation of light properties by dynamically controlling the system's topological charge, circumventing the problem of weak nonlinearity in traditional methods. Furthermore, the integration of phase change materials with nanolasers enables the direct alteration of lasing properties, which provides a novel idea for dynamic light control. The device process scheme based on phase change materials is straightforward, direct, and highly compatible, which will be advantageous for its intended application.