Read my LIPSS: organic lasers on micromachined resonators

Abstract Thin-film lasers based on organic semiconductors offer significant potential for miniaturized sensing and optical memory. We present a new method for creating first-order distributed feedback (DFB) Bragg gratings using laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) as the optical resonat...

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Main Authors: Tiange Dong, Tobias Antrack, Frithjof Pietsch, Jakob Lindenthal, Markus Löffler, Bernd Rellinghaus, Johannes Benduhn, Markas Sudzius, Karl Leo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-08-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62502-6
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author Tiange Dong
Tobias Antrack
Frithjof Pietsch
Jakob Lindenthal
Markus Löffler
Bernd Rellinghaus
Johannes Benduhn
Markas Sudzius
Karl Leo
author_facet Tiange Dong
Tobias Antrack
Frithjof Pietsch
Jakob Lindenthal
Markus Löffler
Bernd Rellinghaus
Johannes Benduhn
Markas Sudzius
Karl Leo
author_sort Tiange Dong
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Thin-film lasers based on organic semiconductors offer significant potential for miniaturized sensing and optical memory. We present a new method for creating first-order distributed feedback (DFB) Bragg gratings using laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) as the optical resonator. These subwavelength structures, fabricated via femtosecond laser micromachining, exhibit stable periodicities and provide sufficient feedback for lasing in an Alq3:DCM film. The laser emission wavelength can be widely tuned by varying the LIPSS periodicity defined by the pulse spacing of the structuring laser. While lasing is limited by LIPSS imperfections, we demonstrate that individual LIPSS gratings optically couple into a coherent macroscopic supermode. This coupling dramatically increases lasing efficiency and reduces thresholds by two orders of magnitude compared to a single LIPSS element. This straightforward fabrication enables solid-state organic DFB lasers as integrated, on-chip coherent light sources, eliminating complex external coupling into photonic circuits.
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issn 2041-1723
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publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
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series Nature Communications
spelling doaj-art-88ed29bfbccb481d9338a0ebd0dcb1c32025-08-20T03:05:06ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-08-011611810.1038/s41467-025-62502-6Read my LIPSS: organic lasers on micromachined resonatorsTiange Dong0Tobias Antrack1Frithjof Pietsch2Jakob Lindenthal3Markus Löffler4Bernd Rellinghaus5Johannes Benduhn6Markas Sudzius7Karl Leo8Dresden Integrated Center for Applied Physics and Photonic Materials (IAPP) and Institute of Applied Physics, Technische Universität DresdenDresden Integrated Center for Applied Physics and Photonic Materials (IAPP) and Institute of Applied Physics, Technische Universität DresdenDresden Integrated Center for Applied Physics and Photonic Materials (IAPP) and Institute of Applied Physics, Technische Universität DresdenDresden Integrated Center for Applied Physics and Photonic Materials (IAPP) and Institute of Applied Physics, Technische Universität DresdenDresden Center for Nanoanalysis (DCN), Center for Advancing Electronics Dresden (CFAED), Technische Universität DresdenDresden Center for Nanoanalysis (DCN), Center for Advancing Electronics Dresden (CFAED), Technische Universität DresdenDresden Integrated Center for Applied Physics and Photonic Materials (IAPP) and Institute of Applied Physics, Technische Universität DresdenDresden Integrated Center for Applied Physics and Photonic Materials (IAPP) and Institute of Applied Physics, Technische Universität DresdenDresden Integrated Center for Applied Physics and Photonic Materials (IAPP) and Institute of Applied Physics, Technische Universität DresdenAbstract Thin-film lasers based on organic semiconductors offer significant potential for miniaturized sensing and optical memory. We present a new method for creating first-order distributed feedback (DFB) Bragg gratings using laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) as the optical resonator. These subwavelength structures, fabricated via femtosecond laser micromachining, exhibit stable periodicities and provide sufficient feedback for lasing in an Alq3:DCM film. The laser emission wavelength can be widely tuned by varying the LIPSS periodicity defined by the pulse spacing of the structuring laser. While lasing is limited by LIPSS imperfections, we demonstrate that individual LIPSS gratings optically couple into a coherent macroscopic supermode. This coupling dramatically increases lasing efficiency and reduces thresholds by two orders of magnitude compared to a single LIPSS element. This straightforward fabrication enables solid-state organic DFB lasers as integrated, on-chip coherent light sources, eliminating complex external coupling into photonic circuits.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62502-6
spellingShingle Tiange Dong
Tobias Antrack
Frithjof Pietsch
Jakob Lindenthal
Markus Löffler
Bernd Rellinghaus
Johannes Benduhn
Markas Sudzius
Karl Leo
Read my LIPSS: organic lasers on micromachined resonators
Nature Communications
title Read my LIPSS: organic lasers on micromachined resonators
title_full Read my LIPSS: organic lasers on micromachined resonators
title_fullStr Read my LIPSS: organic lasers on micromachined resonators
title_full_unstemmed Read my LIPSS: organic lasers on micromachined resonators
title_short Read my LIPSS: organic lasers on micromachined resonators
title_sort read my lipss organic lasers on micromachined resonators
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62502-6
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