Patent ID: 6678297
Filing Date: 2004-01-13
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
A chiral laser apparatus comprising:a layered structure comprising: a chiral layer of a predetermined handedness having a top portion and a bottom portion; a quarter wave plate active material layer of a thickness L having a top and a bottom portion, configured to emit electromagnetic radiation when subjected to excitation and disposed above said chiral layer, wherein said active material layer bottom portion is in substantial contact with said chiral layer top portion, and wherein said active material layer is operable to: (i) convert circularly polarized electromagnetic radiation passing therethrough to linearly polarized electromagnetic radiation, and (ii) convert linearly polarized electromagnetic radiation passing therethrough is to circularly polarized electromagnetic radiation; a reflector having a top and a bottom portion, configured to reflect said electromagnetic radiation, coming from said top portion of said active material layer, wherein said reflector bottom portion is in substantial contact with said active material layer top portion; and excitation means for applying excitation to said layered structure to produce polarized lasing directed through said chiral layer in a direction away from said active material layer.