Electrically-driven nanoscale lasers

This invention is the first demonstration of an electrically driven nanoscale laser. A CdS nanowire, comprising a Fabry-Perot cavity, in contact with an electrode distributed along its length or crossing a Si nanowire, lases above a threshold current. Changing the material the nanowire is composed of can change the wavelength.

Applications

This invention opens up new realms of applications in nanoscale electrical systems, including all the places where LEDs and lasers are now used, as well as many new applications, such as all-optical computing, on-chip/inter-chip optical communication, optical data storage, near field optical probe, single cell surgery, lab-on-a-chip applications, etc.

U.S. Patent(s) Issued: 7,254,151

Additional Information

  • Publication

    "Single- Nanowire Electrically Driven Lasers," Nature, Vol 421, page 241, 2003.