Lasing from two-dimensional photonic crystals using anodic porous alumina

Mirrorless laser emission from fluorescent dye-loaded anodic porous alumina with an ideally arranged hole array configuration is observed. The wavelength of the laser emission (see Figure) appears at the edge of the photonic bandgap in the two-dimensional photonic bandgap that originates from the anodic porous alumina, and can be tuned by changing the geometrical structure of the anodic porous alumina.