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2012
Conference Paper
Titel
Voltage tunable polymer laser device
Abstract
Since organic laser materials offer broad optical gain spectra they are predestined for the realization of widely tunable laser sources. Here we report on a compact organic laser device that allows for voltage controlled continuously wavelength tuning in the visible range of the spectrum by external deformation. The device consists of an elastomeric distributed feedback (DFB) laser and an electro-active elastomer actuator also known as artificial muscle. Second order DFB lasing is realized by a grating line structured elastomer substrate covered with a thin layer of dye doped polymer. To enable wavelength tuning the elastomer laser is placed at the center of the electro-active elastomer actuator. Chosen design of the actuator gives rise to homogeneous compression at this position. The voltage induced deformation of the artificial muscle is transferred to the elastomer laser and results in a decrease of grating period. This leads to an emission wavelength shift of the el astomer laser. The increase of actuation voltage to 3.25 kV decreased the emission wavelength from 604 nm to 557 nm, a change of 47 nm or 7.8%.