Coupled polymer microfiber lasers for single mode operation and enhanced refractive index sensing

Abstract

Single mode lasing operation is obtained from coupled whispering gallery mode polymer fiber lasers via the Vernier effect. This coupled structure offers a significant improvement in sensitivity (∼400 nm/refractive index unit) for refractive index sensing compared to a single cavity. These findings imply that polymer fibers are promising candidates for micro/nano-integrated photonic devices because of their mechanical flexibility and cost-effectiveness.