Plasmon-induced dual-wavelength operation in a Yb^(3+) laser

Expanding the functionalities of plasmon-assisted lasers is essential for emergent applications in nanoscience and nanotechnology.Here,we report on a novel ability of plasmonic structures to induce dual-wavelength lasing in the near-infrared region in a Yb^(3+) solid-state laser.By means of the effects of disordered plasmonic networks deposited on the surface of a Yb^(3+)-doped nonlinear RTP crystal,room-temperature dual-wavelength lasing,with a frequency difference between the lines in the THz range,is realized.The dual-wavelength laser is produced by the simultaneous activation of two lasing channels,namely,an electronic-and a phonon-terminated laser transition.The latter is enabled by the out-of-plane field components that are generated by the plasmonic structures,which excite specific Raman modes.Additionally,multiline radiation at three different wavelengths is demonstrated in the visible spectral region via two self-frequency conversion processes,which occur in the vicinities of the plasmonic structures.The results demonstrate the potential of plasmonic nanostructures for inducing drastic modifications in the operational mode of a solid-state laser and hold promise for applications in a variety of fields,including multiplexing,precise spectroscopies,and THz radiation generation via a simple and cost-effective procedure.