Cavity-enhanced stimulated emission cross section in polymer microlasers

Abstract

We report a cavity quantum electrodynamic enhancement of stimulated emission in polymer microlasers. The enhancement of the stimulated emission cross section is shown through the demonstration of laser action in the 40μm diameter cylindrical microcavities whose total molecular population density is below that theoretically required for the onset of lasing. The lower bound of the enhancement factor is estimated to be 3.9 based on the noncavity value of the stimulated emission cross section and the measured cavity quality factor.