Locus of Control and Effects of Failure on Performance and Perceived Competence

Strong light con¯nement can be achieved in metallic cavities which can con¯ne light to volumes with dimensions considerably smaller than the wavelength of light. It was commonly believed, however, that the high losses in metals are prohibitive for laser peration in metallic nano-cavities. Recently we have reported lasing in a metallic nano-cavity ¯lled with an electrically pumped semiconductor. Importantly, the manufacturing approach employed for these devices permits even greater miniaturization of semiconductor lasers. Furthermore, the approach allows for complex device shapes and the guiding of light between devices. Of particular interest are the metal-insulator-metal (MIM) waveguides. These MIM waveguides can propagate a transverse magnetic (TM0) mode which permits true deep sub-wavelength guiding of light in two dimensions. The manufacturing process is adapted to produce a variant of MIM waveguides. The presentation will look at the modeling, fabrication and operation of these devices. An overview will also be given of latest results from devices. Previously reported devices observed light that leaked out of the metallic nano cavity through the device base. This is not optimal as the lasing light travels transversally between the metal sidewalls of the pillar structure. Ideally, the transverse propagating mode needs to be coupled directly out to either a conventional dielectric waveguide or free space. We will discuss our in making metallic cavity nano lasers with coupling of the transverse propagating mode directly to free space, and present results from our latest attempts.