UniPoLaser

The project UniPoLaser has the ambition to provide the first demonstration of unipolar mid-infrared (MIR) polariton lasers. In contrast to standard quantum cascade lasers that are based on electron population inversion, the proposed devices rely on final-state stimulated scattering of polaritons. In this project, we will consider both devices with optical and electrical pumping. For the optical case, we will investigate polariton-polariton parametric scattering mediated by the Coulomb and saturation effects with the goal of demonstrating for the first time polariton parametric oscillation in the MIR. In this respect, we propose innovative approaches to enhance the scattering efficiency and polariton lifetimes which are the key parameters to reach net gain in these systems. For the electrically pumped devices, we will consider a completely new configuration exploiting the recently discovered cavity-induced bound states (due to the cavity coupling, a quantum well state in the continuum is pushed at lower energy and becomes bound). We will use this novel polaritonic architecture to electrically pump the continuum in a non-resonant fashion and create the conditions to populate the cavity-induced bound state. Hence, we will be able to explore an electrically pump device in the regime of final state stimulation. The goal is to demonstrate the first electrically pumped polariton laser in the MIR, with the possibility of significantly reducing the lasing threshold with respect to conventional semiconductor lasers.