Selective lasing in multimode periodic and non‐periodic nanopillar waveguides

The lasing action in coupled multiple‐row periodic and fractal Cantor‐like nanopillar waveguides has been numerically investigated. It had been shown earlier [D. N. Chigrin et al., Opt. Express 12, 617 (2004)] that such a system exhibits band splitting with distinct, straightforward and controllable supermode formation. In this paper we demonstrate that selective lasing into each of the supermodes is possible. The structure acts as a microlaser with selectable wavelength. Mode selection is achieved by means of coaxial injection seeding with a Gaussian signal with different transverse envelope. The proposed concept of switchable lasing is viewed as an alternative to conventional laser tuning by means of external cavity control. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)