A Thin-Film Flexible Defect-Mode Laser

Laser emission from a flexible defect-mode structure consisting of two photopolymerized liquid crystal thin films separated by a dye-doped polymethylmethacrylate defect layer is demonstrated. A simple and cost-effective film transfer technique is used to fabricate the flexible laser and the corresponding laser emission characteristics, which shows single-mode laser emission at lambda = 582 nm, with an excitation threshold of E-th = 12.3 +/- 0.5 mu J cm(-2) per pulse and a slope efficiency of eta(s) = 6.0 +/- 0.3%, are presented. The polarization state of the laser emission are also presented and are compared with the findings reported in the literature. Finally, laser-beam steering is demonstrated up to 42 degrees by subjecting the device to a mechanically induced deformation that creates a radius of curvature of 5 mm, which is of potential interest for conformable and wearable technology platforms.