Highly directional spaser array for the red wavelength region

The spaser offers an opportunity to achieve coherent optical sources at nanometer scales due to the extreme confinement of optical fields. However, achievement of spasers with directional propagation in the visible wavelength region remains a challenge thus far, owing to the unique optical feedback mechanism and large dissipative losses of the metal cavity. Here, we experimentally demonstrate for the first time a spaser showing highly directional emission in the visible by using a periodic subwavelength hole array perforated in a metal film, which function as plasmonic nanocavities, along with an organic laser dye to supply gain. The lasing occurs in the red wavelength region and shows a single mode. It is suggested that the optical feedback for spasing is provided by the SPP–Bloch wave, which is supported by the fact that no spasing was attained in aperiodic holes as well as in periodic holes that do not support the SPP–Bloch wave at the spasing wavelength.