A well-aligned simple cubic blue phase for a liquid crystal laser

Here, a well-aligned dye-doped simple cubic blue phase (BPII) sample is fabricated that is stable over the temperature range of 4 degrees C and has a photonic bandgap (PBG) equivalent to a visible optical wavelength. We demonstrate the maximum widest tunability range of 30 nm as a function of temperature for the well-aligned dye-doped BPII sample. Moreover, it is found that the emission threshold energy for the laser action can be dramatically reduced.