Soft-matter-based topological vertical cavity surface emitting lasers

Yu Wang; Shiqi Xia; Qun Xie; Donghao Yang; Jingbin Shao; Xinzheng Zhang; Irena Drevensek-Olenik; Qiang Wu; Zhigang Chen; Jingjun Xu

doi:10.1038/s41377-025-02011-9

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Soft-matter-based topological vertical cavity surface emitting lasers

Original Articles

- Soft-matter-based topological vertical cavity surface emitting lasers
- Soft-matter-based topological vertical cavity surface emitting lasers
- Light: Science & Applications 2026年15卷第2期页码：439-450
- Affiliations：
  
  1.The MOE Key Laboratory of Weak-Light Nonlinear Photonics, TEDA Institute of Applied Physics and School of Physics, Nankai University, Tianjin 300457, China
  2.Collaborative Innovation Center of Extreme Optics, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006 Shanxi, China
  3.International Sino-Slovenian Joint Research Center on Liquid Crystal Photonics, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
  4.Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, University of Ljubljana, and Department of Complex Matter, J. Stefan Institute, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Author bio：
  
  Xinzheng Zhang (zxz@nankai.edu.cn)
  Zhigang Chen (zgchen@nankai.edu.cn)
  Jingjun Xu (jjxu@nankai.edu.cn)
- Funds：
- DOI：10.1038/s41377-025-02011-9
  中图分类号：
- 收稿：2025-01-27，
  
  修回：2025-07-07，
  
  录用：2025-08-13，
  
  网络首发：2026-01-02，
  
  纸质出版：2026-02-28
- Accepted：
Scan QR Code
Yu Wang, Shiqi Xia, Qun Xie, 等. Soft-matter-based topological vertical cavity surface emitting lasers[J]. Light: Science & Applications, 2026,15(2):439-450.

Wang, Y. et al. Soft-matter-based topological vertical cavity surface emitting lasers. Light: Science & Applications, 15, 439-450 (2026).
Yu Wang, Shiqi Xia, Qun Xie, 等. Soft-matter-based topological vertical cavity surface emitting lasers[J]. Light: Science & Applications, 2026,15(2):439-450. DOI： 10.1038/s41377-025-02011-9.

Wang, Y. et al. Soft-matter-based topological vertical cavity surface emitting lasers. Light: Science & Applications, 15, 439-450 (2026). DOI： 10.1038/s41377-025-02011-9.

摘要

Abstract

Polarized topological vertical cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) are promising candidates for stable and efficient on-chip light sources

with significant potential for advancing optical storage and communication technologies. However

most semiconductor-based topological lasers rely on intricate fabrication techniques and face limitations in providing the flexibility needed for diverse device applications. By drawing an analogy to two-dimensional Semenov insulators and the quantum valley Hall effect in a synthetic parameter space

we design and realize a one-dimensional optical superlattice using stacked polymerized cholesteric liquid crystal films and Mylar films. Such a one-dimensional optical superlattice is achieved by using films spin-coated with a Pyrromethene 597 solution

thus enabling the demonstration of a structure-flexible

low threshold

and circularly-polarized topological VCSEL. We demonstrate that such a topological VCSEL maintains excellent single-mode operation at low pump power

and its spatial profile aligns closely with that of the pump laser. Thanks to the soft-matter-based metastructure

the topological laser can be “attached” to substrates of various shapes

maintaining desired laser properties and beam steering even after undergoing multiple bends. These characteristics make the demonstrated topological laser ideal for applications in consumer electronics

laser scanning

displays

and photonic wearable devices

where both flexibility and performance are crucial.

关键词

Keywords

references

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