Spatial Confinement of Laser Light in Active Random Media

Abstract

We have observed spatial confinement of laser light in micrometer-sized random media. The optical confinement is attributed to the disorder-induced scattering and interference. Our experimental data suggest that coherent amplification of the scattered light enhances the interference effect and helps the spatial confinement. Using the finite-difference time-domain method, we simulate lasing with coherent feedback in the active random medium.

Keywords

Lasing thresholdRandom laserOpticsInterference (communication)Light scatteringLaserScatteringPhysicsRadiationCoherent backscatteringMaterials science

Affiliated Institutions

Northwestern University US

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Publication Info

Year: 2000
Type: article
Volume: 84
Issue: 24
Pages: 5584-5587
Citations: 639
Access: Closed

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APA Style

                            
                                
                                    Hui Cao, 
                                
                                    Jingyuan Xu, 
                                
                                    D. Z. Zhang
                                
                                et al.
                            
                            (2000). 
                            Spatial Confinement of Laser Light in Active Random Media. 
                            Physical Review Letters
                            , 84
                            (24)
                            , 5584-5587.
                            https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.84.5584
                        

Identifiers

DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.84.5584
PMID: 10991000

Data Quality

Data completeness: 77%