Unidirectional laser emission from π-conjugated polymer microcavities with broken symmetry

We report unidirectional laser emission from π-conjugated polymer microcavities with broken symmetry geometries such as spiral and microdisk containing a "line defect," in comparison with plain microdisk cavity having isotropic emission. We found that the laser emission directionality contrast ratio is 8-10 and far field lateral divergence angle is 12°-15° for both broken symmetry geometries, with no significant increase in the laser threshold intensity. Fourier transform analysis of the laser emission spectra shows that unlike microdisks with line defect, the variation of light trajectories in the spiral microcavities leads to less defined laser modes. © 2007 American Institute of Physics.