Applying topological physics to lasing creates more highly efficient and robust lasersIsraeli and US

Applying topological physics to lasing creates more highly efficient and robust lasers

Israeli and US researchers have developed a new, highly efficient coherent and robust semiconductor laser system: the topological insulator laser.
The findings are presented in two new joint research papers, one describing theory and the other experiments, published online today by the prestigious journal Science.
Topological insulators are one of the most innovative and promising areas of physics in recent years, providing new insight into the basic understanding of protected transport. These are special materials that are insulators in their interior but conduct a “super-current” on their surface: the current on their surface is not affected by defects, sharp corners or disorder; it continues unidirectionally without being scattered.
The studies were conducted by Professor Mordechai Segev, of The Technion–Israel Institute of Technology, and his team: Dr. Miguel A. Bandres and Gal Harari, in collaboration with Professors Demetrios N. Christodoulides and Mercedeh Khajavikhan and their students Steffen Wittek, Midya Parto and Jinhan Ren at CREOL, College of Optics and Photonics, University of Central Florida, together with scientists from the US and Singapore.