Random lasing in weakly scattering systems

X. Wu, W. Fang, A. Yamilov, A. A. Chabanov, A. A. Asatryan, L. C. Botten, and H. Cao
Phys. Rev. A 74, 053812 – Published 17 November 2006

Abstract

We present detailed experimental and numerical studies of random lasing in weakly scattering systems. The interference of scattered light, which is weak in the passive systems, is greatly enhanced in the presence of high gain, providing coherent and resonant feedback for lasing. The lasing modes are confined in the vicinity of the pumped volume due to absorption of emitted light outside it. In the ballistic regime where the size of the gain volume is less than the scattering mean free path, lasing oscillation occurs along the direction in which the gain volume is most extended, producing directional laser output. The feedback for lasing originates mainly from backscattering of particles near the boundaries of the pumped region. It results in nearly constant frequency spacing of lasing modes, which scales inversely with the maximum dimension of the gain volume.

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  • Received 5 June 2006

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.74.053812

©2006 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

X. Wu1, W. Fang1, A. Yamilov1,2, A. A. Chabanov1,3, A. A. Asatryan4, L. C. Botten4, and H. Cao1

  • 1Department of Physics and Astronomy, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA
  • 2Department of Physics, University of Missouri-Rolla, Rolla, Missouri 65409, USA
  • 3Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Texas-San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78249, USA
  • 4Centre for Ultrahigh-bandwidth Devices for Optical Systems and Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Technology, Sydney, New South Wales 2007, Australia

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Vol. 74, Iss. 5 — November 2006

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