Quantum Behavior in Mesoscale Lasers

Describing the operation of mesoscale lasers consisting of several atom or semiconductor quantum dot emitters in an optical cavity is a challenge that, if properly addressed, may contribute to a new generation of efficient, ultra-small, photonic components. In dramatic contrast to successful continuum mean-field models of conventional macroscopic laser diodes, a quantum mechanical description of mesoscale lasers predicts steady-state and transient behavior that is dominated by fluctuations in the photon field and, in the limit of few emitters, the existence of symmetry-protected long-lived emitter states. Current understanding of these mesoscale laser phenomena suggests a very promising and challenging field for future study.