Switchable lasing in coupled multimode microcavities

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel switchable multimode microlaser concept using coupled photonic crystal defects, demonstrating mode selection and switching via injection seeding and numerical simulations.

Contribution

It presents the first theoretical demonstration of mode switching in a coupled microcavity laser system through injection seeding and bistability analysis.

Findings

Mode selection achieved by injection seeding

Temporal mode switching demonstrated via numerical simulations

Bistability explains the switching mechanism

Abstract

We propose the new concept of a switchable multimode microlaser. As a generic, realistic model of a multimode microresonator a system of two coupled defects in a two-dimensional photonic crystal is considered. We demonstrate theoretically that lasing of the cavity into one selected resonator mode can be caused by injecting an appropriate optical pulse at the onset of laser action (injection seeding). Temporal mode-to-mode switching by re-seeding the cavity after a short cool-down period is demonstrated by direct numerical solution. A qualitative analytical explanation of the mode switching in terms of the laser bistability is presented.