Article comprising a plastic laser
First Claim
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1. An article comprising a laser structure for providing a source of electromagnetic radiation, the laser structure comprising:
- a light-emitting device comprising a plurality of layers including two spaced-apart conductive layers and a light emissive layer therebetween such that incoherent radiation of a first wavelength is emitted from the light emissive device, a substrate disposed adjacent the light-emitting device and having a first and a second side, the substrate being so oriented relative to the light-emitting device that incoherent electromagnetic radiation of the first wavelength emitted from the light-emitting device is received by the substrate at the first side and guided within the body of the substrate to the second side, wherein the substrate is configured such that the radiation is concentrated as it is guided within the body of the substrate from the first side to the second side, and a laser comprising a first and a second cladding region with a core region therebetween, the laser disposed such that the radiation guided to the second side of the substrate is received by the laser, the core region comprising a layer of material selected to absorb the incoherent radiation of the first wavelength and to emit coherent electromagnetic radiation of second wavelength, longer than the first wavelength, in response to the absorbed incoherent electromagnetic radiation;
the substrate configured to concentrate the radiation by the substrate comprising at least a first and a second region with a reflective interface proximal the junction of the first and second regions for internally reflecting light within the first region, the substrate being so oriented relative to the light-emitting device that a substantial amount of the incoherent electromagnetic radiation of the first wavelength emitted from the light-emitting device is received by the first region at the first side of the substrate, wherein the radiation is internally reflected at the interface to be substantially confined within the first region and is guided within the first region to the second side of the substrate.
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Abstract
A laser structure may be used to fabricate a plastic laser and achieve electrically-driven lasing action. The structure comprises an LED, a waveguide laser, and a substrate disposed between them. The substrate has a first and a second side. Light emitted from the LED is received by the substrate at the first side and concentrated as it is guided with the body of the substrate to the second side, where it is received by the laser. Concentration of the light across the substrate improves the efficiency of the device and leads to lower threshold powers.
46 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An article comprising a laser structure for providing a source of electromagnetic radiation, the laser structure comprising:
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a light-emitting device comprising a plurality of layers including two spaced-apart conductive layers and a light emissive layer therebetween such that incoherent radiation of a first wavelength is emitted from the light emissive device, a substrate disposed adjacent the light-emitting device and having a first and a second side, the substrate being so oriented relative to the light-emitting device that incoherent electromagnetic radiation of the first wavelength emitted from the light-emitting device is received by the substrate at the first side and guided within the body of the substrate to the second side, wherein the substrate is configured such that the radiation is concentrated as it is guided within the body of the substrate from the first side to the second side, and a laser comprising a first and a second cladding region with a core region therebetween, the laser disposed such that the radiation guided to the second side of the substrate is received by the laser, the core region comprising a layer of material selected to absorb the incoherent radiation of the first wavelength and to emit coherent electromagnetic radiation of second wavelength, longer than the first wavelength, in response to the absorbed incoherent electromagnetic radiation;
the substrate configured to concentrate the radiation by the substrate comprising at least a first and a second region with a reflective interface proximal the junction of the first and second regions for internally reflecting light within the first region, the substrate being so oriented relative to the light-emitting device that a substantial amount of the incoherent electromagnetic radiation of the first wavelength emitted from the light-emitting device is received by the first region at the first side of the substrate, wherein the radiation is internally reflected at the interface to be substantially confined within the first region and is guided within the first region to the second side of the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An article comprising a laser structure for providing a source of electromagnetic radiation, the laser structure comprising
a substantially planar microcavity LED for emitting incoherent radiation of a first wavelength, a substrate disposed adjacent the microcavity LED and having a first and a second side, the substrate comprising a first light-receiving region and a second surrounding region with a reflectivity coating disposed at the junction of the first and second regions to internally reflect light within the first region, the first and second regions configured to define an axicon having a broad end at the first side and a narrow end at the second side, wherein the incoherent electromagnetic radiation of the first wavelength emitted from the microcavity LED is received by the first region at the broad end, internally reflected in the first region and concentrated as it is guided within the body of the first region to the second side of the substrate, an optical waveguide laser comprising a first and a second cladding region with a core region therebetween fabricated with an organic material, the laser disposed such that at least some of the radiation guided to the second side of the substrate is received by the laser, the core region comprising a layer of material selected to absorb the incoherent radiation of the first wavelength and to emit coherent electromagnetic radiation of a second wavelength, longer than the first wavelength, in response to the absorbed incoherent electromagnetic radiation; - and
an output coupler comprising a two-dimensional photonic crystal for guiding radiation of the second wavelength emitted from the laser in a desired direction, the output coupler and waveguide laser being integrated on one waveguide.
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Specification