Breakthroughs in Photonics 2014: Random Lasers

Multiple scattering of light in a disordered medium with gain may provide for the necessary feedback to achieve lasing action without an optical cavity. In addition to the fundamental interest raised by this regime of light-matter interaction in open cavity, the relatively simple design of these so-called “random lasers” and the possibility to control their emission open perspective of new applications in domains not yet covered by conventional lasers.