Tunable WGM resonators from optically trapped dye doped liquid crystal emulsion droplets

Abstract

We have built a complex apparatus for optical trapping, stretching, heating and concurrent whispering gallery mode (WGM) lasing excitation of liquid crystal (LC) emulsion micro-droplets doped with various fluorescent dyes. We have explored the changes of WGM lasing wavelength when the LC droplets were optically stretched or electrically heated beyond the transition to the isotropic phase. We have found that the range of lasing wavelengths was in some cases considerably higher than when we optically stretched ordinary fluorescent oil droplets in our previous experiments.