Electrostatically tunable optomechanical “zipper” cavity laser

Abstract

A tunable nanoscale “zipper” laser cavity, formed from two doubly clamped photonic crystal nanobeams, is demonstrated. Pulsed, room temperature, optically pumped lasing action at λ=1.3 μm is observed for cavities formed in a thin membrane containing InAsP/GaInAsP quantum-wells. Metal electrodes are deposited on the ends of the nanobeams to allow for microelectromechanical actuation. Electrostatic tuning over a range of Δλ=20 nm for an applied voltage amplitude of 9 V and modulation at a frequency as high as νm=6.7 MHz of the laser wavelength is demonstrated.