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A nanophotonic laser on a graph
Conventional nano-photonic schemes minimise multiple scattering to realise a
miniaturised version of beam-splitters, interferometers and optical cavities
for light propagation and lasing. Here instead, we introduce a nanophotonic
network built from multiple paths and interference, to control and enhance
light-matter interaction via light localisation. The network is built from a
mesh of subwavelength waveguides, and can sustain localised modes and
mirror-less light trapping stemming from interference over hundreds of nodes.
With optical gain, these modes can easily lase, reaching 100 pm
linewidths. We introduce a graph solution to the Maxwell's equation which
describes light on the network, and predicts lasing action. In this framework,
the network optical modes can be designed via the network connectivity and
topology, and lasing can be tailored and enhanced by the network shape.
Nanophotonic networks pave the way for new laser device architectures, which
can be used for sensitive biosensing and on-chip optical information
processing
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