Nanoslot laser

We propose and demonstrate photonic crystal nanolaser with a nanoslot. Using high-aspect etching process, we succeed in fabricating a 30-nm-wide nanoslot device and room temperature lasing in both air and liquids. As an index sensor, it exhibits a high sensitivity of 410 nm per refractive index unit, as well as low temperature dependence in water. These behaviors and theoretical analysis suggest that the mode is strongly localized in the nanoslot. This device will be effective for enhancing light-matter interaction in cavity quantum electro dynamics, nonlinear optics, and biosensing. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3505139]