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Laser action in strongly scattering media

Nature volume 368, pages 436–438 (1994)Cite this article

A Correction to this article was published on 26 May 1994

Abstract

THE radiative properties of an atomic or molecular system may be altered significantly in the presence of coherent optical scattering1,2. In the course of investigating the radiative properties of a laser dye dispersed in a strongly scattering medium (a colloidal suspension of titanium dioxide particles), we have found that the emissions from such systems can exhibit spectral and temporal properties characteristic of a multimode laser oscillator, even though the systems contain no external cavity. The threshold excitation energy for laser action is surprisingly low. We suggest that these composite systems might find applications in laser instrumentation and photonics.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Engineering and Department of Physics, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, 02912, USA

    N. M. Lawandy, R. M. Balachandran, A. S. L. Gomes & E. Sauvain

Authors
  1. N. M. Lawandy
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  2. R. M. Balachandran
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  3. A. S. L. Gomes
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  4. E. Sauvain
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Lawandy, N., Balachandran, R., Gomes, A. et al. Laser action in strongly scattering media. Nature 368, 436–438 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1038/368436a0

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