KAIST scientists have designed a new laser system that can generate highly interactive quantum particles at room temperature. The findings were published recently, showing that the breakthrough could lead to single microcavity laser systems that require low threshold energy as loss of energy surges.
The laser system developed by the scientists shines a light through a single hexagonal microcavity that’s treated with a loss-modulated silicon nitride substrate. The system is capable of generating a polariton laser at room temperature, which is significant ass such generations usually require cryogenic temperatures.
Design and materials make all the difference
Researchers also found out that while energy is typically lost during laser operation, the new laser system managed to reduce the amount of energy required during a surge in the loss of energy. Using this discovery, the development of high-energy lasers for future quantum optical devices can happen.
The researchers worked on the concept of parity-time reversal symmetry that allowed energy loss to be used as gain to reduce laser threshold energy for optical devices. It can also be used to control the direction of light.
Design and materials are the key to this breakthrough. The hexagonal microcavity divides light into two modes. One passes through the upward-facing triangle of the hexagon, while the other goes via the downward-facing triangle. Although these modes have the same energy, they do not interact with each other.
Turing loss into gain
The light particles come in contact with other particles known as excitons that are provided by the hexagonal microgravity, made of semiconductors. The interactions produce new quantum particles known as polaritons that produce polariton laser when they come in contact. Researchers discovered that by controlling the degree of loss between the microcavity and the semiconductor substrate, threshold energy goes down with the increase in energy loss.
There have been many such innovations in the recent past. Engineers are trying to make fusion energy possible with help of the world’s most powerful magnet. The huge 1,000-ton solenoid is capable of generating controlled magnetic fields. It is around 60 feet tall and around 13 feet wide.
