Electrically controlled laser generation in a photonic crystal - liquid crystal - metal microcavity

TL;DR

This paper presents a comprehensive simulation model for a liquid crystal-based laser in a photonic crystal-metal microcavity, accounting for voltage-induced structural changes and resonant frequency shifts, validated by experimental spectra.

Contribution

It introduces a novel coupled differential equation model that explicitly incorporates liquid crystal structural transformations and resonant frequency shifts in laser dynamics.

Findings

Lasing spectra are controllable by external electric fields.

The model accurately predicts measured lasing spectra.

The approach advances understanding of electrically tunable liquid crystal lasers.

Abstract

A comprehensive approach for simulating lasing dynamics in a liquid crystal based laser is presented. The approach takes into account the transformation of the liquid crystal structure caused by applied voltage. In particular, it allows us to explicitly account for a resonant mode frequency shift in the laser equations. The laser dynamic is described by a set of coupled non-linear differential equations for dye polarizations, population densities and the electromagnetic fields. The proposed model is applied to a photonic crystal$-$metal microcavity filled with a resonant nematic liquid crystal layer doped with a dye. The calculated lasing spectra governed by external electric field are verified in comparison with measured spectra.