In recent years, research in photonics and materials science has led to the development of innovative optical resonators capable of amplifying random radiation. One promising area is the use of multicomponent quasicrystals based on aluminum atoms. These structures, which have a unique combination of order and aperiodicity, open up new possibilities for light control and the creation of compact, highly efficient optical devices.
Quasicrystals, unlike ordinary crystals, do not have translational symmetry, but have a long-range order. This feature leads to the emergence of a complex diffraction pattern and the formation of photonic forbidden zones, which can be tuned by changing the composition and structure of the quasicrystal. As a result, it becomes possible to create optical resonators with specified resonant frequencies and high quality factor.
The use of aluminum atoms as the main component of the quasicrystal is due to their high abundance, low cost and good optical properties over a wide range of wavelengths. The addition of other elements such as copper, iron or silicon allows modification of the electronic structure and, therefore, the optical characteristics of the quasicrystal, providing an additional degree of freedom in the design of resonators.
The amplification of random radiation in such resonators occurs due to multiple scattering and interference of light in the structure of the quasicrystal. Photons entering the resonator are repeatedly reflected from various faces and defects, which leads to an increase in their residence time inside the resonator and, consequently, to an increase in their intensity. This process can be used to create lasers with random generation, sensors and other optical devices.
Further research in this area is aimed at optimizing the structure and composition of multicomponent quasicrystals to achieve maximum efficiency in random radiation amplification. Work is also underway to create compact and reliable optical resonators based on these materials for various applications in photonics and optoelectronics.
The use of a two-dimensional (2D) passive scatterer with dispersive properties to trap photons in an active medium stimulates the occurrence of incoherent random laser radiation (ic-RL) via non-resonant feedback. An optical resonator (OR) can be used to influence the generation threshold of such laser radiation. Quasicrystals (QCs) created on the basis of non-noble nanomaterials are an interesting object for research due to the possibility of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and their ability to form two-dimensional structures.
In this work, a multicomponent aluminum-based alloy (AlCo10Fe5Ni10Cu5) was prepared using an arc melting method. Then, an ultrasonic-assisted liquid-phase exfoliation method was used to fabricate two-dimensional quasicrystals (2D-QCs). The surfactant-induced light scattering property of the synthesized 2D-QCs was utilized to generate IR-RL from a DCM dye-containing medium under pulsed laser pumping (wavelength 532 nm, duration 10 ns, frequency 10 Hz).
It was shown that 2D-QCs are capable of enhancing the plasma field, which allows the dye to absorb photons outside its absorption band. The transition between IR-RL and IR-RL with reflection gain, and vice versa, in the presence of cavity walls, was achieved by changing the device configuration. Thus, the prospects of using 2D-QCs as passive scatterers, as well as the possibility of controlling the lasing threshold in the presence of OR, were demonstrated.
Author: Nabarun Mandal, Partha Kumbhakar, Arindam Dey, Pathik Kumbhakar, Udit Chatterjee, Christiano JS de Matos, Thakur Prasad Yadav, Nilay Krishna Mukhopadhyay, Krishanu Biswas, Vidya Kochat, Chandra Sekhar Tiwary
Institute:
School of Nanoscience and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, 721302, India
Department of Physics and Electronics, Christ University, Bangalore-560029, Karnataka, India
Nanotechnology Laboratory, Department of Physics, National Institute of Technology, Durgapur, 713209, West Bengal, India
Laser Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Burdwan, Burdwan, 713104, India
McGrath, Mackenzie Presbyterian Institute, Sao Paulo, Brazil 01302-907
Faculty of Engineering, Presbyterian Mackenzie University, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 01302-907
Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Allahabad University, Prayagraj 211002, Uttar Pradesh, India
Department of Metallurgical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India