Direct writing of tunable multi-wavelength polymer lasers on a flexible substrate

Abstract

Tunable multi-wavelength polymer lasers based on two-dimensional distributed feedback structures are fabricated on a transparent flexible substrate using interference ablation. A scalene triangular lattice structure was designed to support stable tri-wavelength lasing emission and was achieved through multiple exposure processes. Three wavelengths were controlled by three periods of the compound cavity. Mode competition among different cavity modes was observed by changing the pump fluence. Both a redshift and blueshift of the laser wavelength could be achieved by bending the soft substrate. These results not only provide insight into the physical mechanisms behind co-cavity polymer lasers but also introduce new laser sources and laser designs for white light lasers.