Free electrons excited SPASER

Opt Express. 2018 Nov 26;26(24):31402-31412. doi: 10.1364/OE.26.031402.

Abstract

Surface plasmon amplification by stimulated emission of radiation (SPASER) is discovered and used for realizing lasers at nanometer scale. The conventional gain media that are applied in SPASER are solid materials, such as organic dye or semiconductor, which limits the frequency range of SPASER. The free electrons could be considered as a kind of gain medium for emitting radiation. Here, we investigate theoretically the SPASER, which is excited by free electrons. We also demonstrate the tunable, deep-ultraviolet, and ultracompact laser numerically by having free electrons interact with surface plasmon polariton mode supported on metal surface. The output power density could reach about 30 W/μm2 and the wavelength in deep ultraviolet could be widely tuned by varying the electron energy. This work offers a way of realizing integrated free electron laser in the ultraviolet frequency region.