Ultralow-threshold laser using super-bound states in the continuum

Wavelength-scale lasers provide promising applications through low power consumption requiring for optical cavities with increased quality factors. Cavity radiative losses can be suppressed strongly in the regime of optical bound states in the continuum; however, a finite size of the resonator limits the performance of bound states in the continuum as cavity modes for active nanophotonic devices. Here, we employ the concept of a supercavity mode created by merging symmetry-protected and accidental bound states in the continuum in the momentum space, and realize an efficient laser based on a finite-size cavity with a small footprint. We trace the evolution of lasing properties before and after the merging point by varying the lattice spacing, and we reveal this laser demonstrates the significantly reduced threshold, substantially increased quality factor, and shrunken far-field images. Our results provide a route for nanolasers with reduced out-of-plane losses in finite-size active nanodevices and improved lasing characteristics. Though laser action has been reported for optical bound states in the continuum (BIC) cavities with high quality factors, these BIC lasers lacked practical applicability. Here, the authors report an ultralow-threshold super-BIC laser featuring merged symmetry-protected and accidental BICs.

Automated summary

By merging symmetry-protected and accidental bound states in the continuum, an efficient laser with significantly reduced threshold, substantially increased quality factor, and shrunken far-field images can be realized. The study provides a route for nanolasers with reduced out-of-plane losses in finite-size active nanodevices and improved lasing characteristics.