Directional control of weakly localized Raman from a random network of fractal nanowires

Abstract

Disordered optical media are an emerging class of materials capable of strongly scattering light. Their study is relevant to investigate transport phenomena and for applications in imaging, sensing and energy storage. While such materials can be used to generate coherent light, their directional emission is typically hampered by their very multiple scattering nature. Here, we tune the out-of-plane directionality of coherent Raman light scattered by a fractal network of silicon nanowires. By visualizing Rayleigh scattering, photoluminescence and weakly localized Raman light from the random network of nanowires via real-space microscopy and Fourier imaging, we gain insight on the light transport mechanisms responsible for the material's inelastic coherent signal and for its directionality. The possibility of visualizing and manipulating directional coherent light in such networks of nanowires opens venues for fundamental studies of light propagation in disordered media as well as for the development of next generation optical devices based on disordered structures, inclusive of sensors, light sources and optical switches.

References in corpus (11)

• Light fields in complex media: mesoscopic scattering meets wave control
• Lasing action in active dielectric nanoantenna arrays
• Coherent perfect absorbers: linear control of light with light
• Communication through a Diffusive Medium: Coherence and Capacity
• Adaptive pumping for spectral control of random lasers
• Taming random lasers through active spatial control of the pump
• Comparative analysis of imaging configurations and objectives for Fourier microscopy
• Pump-Controlled Directional Light Emission from Random Lasers
• Fast compressive Raman bio-imaging via matrix completion
• Directional Emission from Dielectric Leaky-Wave Nanoantennas
• Directional emission of a deterministically fabricated quantum dot - Bragg reflection multi-mode waveguide system