Intra-cavity stimulated emissions of photons in almost pure spin states without imposed nonreciprocity

Opt Express. 2012 Jan 30;20(3):2516-27. doi: 10.1364/OE.20.002516.

Abstract

We propose a chiral Fabry-Perot cavity in which only the cavity modes in almost pure spin (circular polarization) states lase in the presence of gain. In absence of imposed nonreciprocal environments and time-reversal symmetry breaking of emitter states to favor the emission of circularly-polarized photons, only the resonance of modes with a specific spin orientation remains in the cavity. We demonstrate a prototype of the cavity using distributed Bragg reflectors and cholesteric liquid crystals. This reciprocal cavity may provide a method to control the angular momentum state of emitters based on stimulated emissions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Computer Simulation
  • Computer-Aided Design
  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Light
  • Models, Theoretical*
  • Photons
  • Refractometry / instrumentation*
  • Scattering, Radiation
  • Spin Labels
  • Surface Plasmon Resonance / instrumentation*
  • Surface Plasmon Resonance / methods*

Substances

  • Spin Labels