Tunable on chip optofluidic laser

A chip scale tunable laser in the visible spectral band is realized by generating a periodic droplet array inside a microfluidic channel. Combined with a gain medium within the droplets, the periodic structure provides the optical feedback of the laser. By controlling the pressure applied to two separate inlets we can change the period of the droplet array. As a result, the lasing frequency is tuned over a broad spectral range. Using this configuration, we demonstrate wavelength tunability of about 70 nm and lasing threshold of about 15 mu J/mm(2). (C) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC.