Robust low threshold full-color upconversion lasing in rare-earth activated nanocrystal-in-glass microcavity

IF 20.6 Q1 OPTICS Light-Science & Applications Pub Date : 2025-01-02 DOI:10.1038/s41377-024-01671-3

Zhigang Gao, Lugui Cui, Yushi Chu, Luyue Niu, Lehan Wang, Rui Zhao, Yulong Yang, Xiaofeng Liu, Jing Ren, Guoping Dong

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Visible light microlasers are essential building blocks for integrated photonics. However, achieving low-threshold (μW), continuous-wave (CW) visible light lasing at room temperature (RT) has been a challenge because of the formidable requirement of population inversion at short wavelengths. Rare-earth (RE)-activated microcavities, featuring high-quality factor (Q) and small mode volume of whispering gallery modes, offer a great opportunity for achieving infrared-to-visible upconversion (UC) lasing. Here, we report that batch-produced nano-glass composite (GC) microspheres incorporating RE-doped fluoride nanocrystals show efficient UC emissions. These multi-phase composite microspheres exhibit a high Q value (≥10⁵), comparable to that of conventional multi-component glass microspheres. The UC lasing with pure red, green, and blue (RGB) emissions are demonstrated based on a highly efficient tapered fiber-microsphere system. More importantly, the GC microspheres manifest reduced (by 45%) lasing threshold and enhanced (more than four times) slope efficiency. These characteristics, together with excellent long-term stability, suggest a promising solution to achieving highly robust, stand-alone, low-threshold, and versatile UC microlasers.

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