Organic semiconductor laser

• US 6,396,860 B1
• Filed: 08/25/2000
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Trustees of Princeton University (Princeton University)
• Original Assignee: The Trustees of Princeton University (Princeton University)
• Inventors: Kozlov, Vladimir, Forrest, Stephen R., Bulovic, Vladimir, Burrows, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Davie, James W.
• Application Number:
  US09/648,156
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• Field of Search: 372/39,53,70
• US Class Current: 372/39
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/0632 Thin film lasers in which light propagates in the plane of the thin film
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/0635 provided with a periodic structure, e.g. using distributed feed-back, grating couplers controlling, e.g. modulating distributed feed-back lasers H01S3/102
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/168 using an organic dye dispersed in a solid matrix
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/041 Optical pumping
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/36 comprising organic materials

Abstract

An optically-pumped laser having a small-molecule thin organic film of DCM doped Alq₃. Carrier transport properties of the small-molecule organic materials, combined with a low lasing threshold provide a new generation of diode lasers employing organic thin films. An electrically-pumped variant is also described.

Claims

1. A laser comprising

a substrate;

and

a layer of thin film organic material arranged on the substrate,

wherein the organic material has an index of refraction greater than an index of refraction of the substrate, and the organic material lases when pumped to thereby produce laser light;

wherein the layer of organic material includes two reflective facets substantially parallel to each other, thereby forming an optical resonator; and

wherein the organic material includes a host material doped with a guest material.

2. The laser of claim 1, wherein the organic material includes a photoluminescent organic material doped with a laser dye.

3. The laser of claim 2, wherein the photoluminescent organic material includes tris(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminum.

4. The laser of claim 2, wherein the laser dye includes DCM.

5. The laser of claim 1, wherein the organic material is applied onto the substrate by vacuum deposition.

6. The laser of claim 1, wherein an electroluminescent spectrum of the host material and an absorption spectrum of the guest material overlap.

7. The laser of claim 1, wherein energy absorbed by the host material is transferred to the guest material.

8. The laser of claim 1, wherein the substrate includes glass.

9. The laser of claim 1, wherein the organic material comprises small molecules.

10. The laser of claim 1, wherein the laser is incorporated into a communications device.

11. The laser of claim 1, wherein the laser is incorporated into a printer.

12. The laser of claim 1, wherein the laser is incorporated into an etching system.

13. The laser of claim 1, wherein the laser is incorporated into a measurement device.

14. The laser of claim 1, wherein the laser is incorporated into an optical memory device.

15. A laser comprising

a substrate;

and

a layer of thin film organic material arranged on the substrate,

wherein the organic material has an index of refraction greater than an index of refraction of the substrate, and the organic material lases when pumped to thereby produce laser light;

wherein the layer of organic material includes two reflective facets substantially parallel to each other, thereby forming an optical resonator; and

wherein the organic material includes a photoluminescent organic material doped with a laser dye.

16. The laser of claim 15, wherein the photoluminescent organic material includes tris(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminum.

17. The laser of claim 15, wherein the laser dye includes DCM.

18. The laser of claim 15, wherein the organic material is applied onto the substrate by vacuum deposition.

19. The laser of claim 15, wherein an electroluminescent spectrum of the photoluminescent organic material and an absorption spectrum of the laser dye overlap.

20. The laser of claim 15, wherein energy absorbed by the photoluminescent organic material is transferred to the laser dye.

21. The laser of claim 15, wherein the substrate includes glass.

22. The laser of claim 15, wherein the organic material comprises small molecules.

23. The laser of claim 15, wherein the laser is incorporated into a communications device.

24. The laser of claim 15, wherein the laser is incorporated into a printer.

25. The laser of claim 15, wherein the laser is incorporated into an etching system.

26. The laser of claim 15, wherein the laser is incorporated into a measurement device.

27. The laser of claim 15, wherein the laser is incorporated into an optical memory device.

28. A laser comprising:

a substrate;

a first electrode arranged on the substrate;

a first cladding layer arranged on the first electrode;

an active organic layer arranged on the first cladding layer;

a second cladding layer arranged on the active organic layer; and

a second electrode arranged on the second cladding layer;

wherein the active organic layer includes two reflective facets substantially parallel to each other, thereby forming an optical resonator; and

wherein the active organic layer includes a host material doped with a guest material.

29. The laser of claim 28, wherein the active organic layer includes a photoluminescent organic material doped with a laser dye.

30. The laser of claim 28, wherein the first cladding layer includes a hole conducting material and the second cladding layer includes an electron conducting material.

31. The laser of claim 28, wherein the first cladding layer includes an electron conducting material and the second cladding layer includes a hole conducting material.

32. The laser of claim 28, wherein the active organic layer has an index of refraction greater than an index of refraction of the first cladding layer and greater than an index of refraction of the second cladding layer.

33. The laser of claim 28, wherein the active organic layer includes a photoluminescent organic material doped with a laser dye.

34. The laser of claim 33, wherein the photoluminescent organic material includes tris(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminum.

35. The laser of claim 33, wherein the laser dye includes DCM.

36. The laser of claim 28, wherein an electroluminescent spectrum of the host material and an absorption spectrum of the guest material overlap.

37. The laser of claim 28, wherein energy absorbed by the host material is transferred to the guest material.

38. The laser of claim 28, wherein the substrate includes glass.

39. The laser of claim 28, wherein the active organic layer comprises small molecules.

40. The laser of claim 28, wherein the laser is incorporated into a communications device.

41. The laser of claim 28, wherein the laser is incorporated into a printer.

42. The laser of claim 28, wherein the laser is incorporated into an etching system.

43. The laser of claim 28, wherein the laser is incorporated into a measurement device.

44. The laser of claim 28, wherein the laser is incorporated into an optical memory device.

45. A laser comprising:

a substrate;

a first electrode arranged on the substrate;

a first cladding layer arranged on the first electrode;

an active organic layer arranged on the first cladding layer;

a second cladding layer arranged on the active organic layer; and

a second electrode arranged on the second cladding layer;

wherein the active organic layer includes two reflective facets substantially parallel to each other, thereby forming an optical resonator; and

wherein the active organic layer includes a photoluminescent organic material doped with a laser dye.

46. The laser of claim 45, wherein the first cladding layer includes a hole conducting material and the second cladding layer includes an electron conducting material.

47. The laser of claim 45, wherein the first cladding layer includes an electron conducting material and the second cladding layer includes a hole conducting material.

48. The laser of claim 45, wherein the active organic layer has an index of refraction greater than an index of refraction of the first cladding layer and greater than an index of refraction of the second cladding layer.

49. The laser of claim 45, wherein the active organic layer includes a photoluminescent organic material doped with a laser dye.

50. The laser of claim 49, wherein the photoluminescent organic material includes tris(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminum.

51. The laser of claim 45, wherein the laser dye includes DCM.

52. The laser of claim 45, wherein an electroluminescent spectrum of the host material and an absorption spectrum of the guest material overlap.

53. The laser of claim 45, wherein energy absorbed by the host material is transferred to the guest material.

54. The laser of claim 45, wherein the substrate includes glass.

55. The laser of claim 45, wherein the active organic layer comprises small molecules.

56. The laser of claim 45, wherein the laser is incorporated into a communications device.

57. The laser of claim 45, wherein the laser is incorporated into a printer.

58. The laser of claim 45, wherein the laser is incorporated into an etching system.

59. The laser of claim 45, wherein the laser is incorporated into a measurement device.

60. The laser of claim 45, wherein the laser is incorporated into an optical memory device.