Micro-cavity lasing of optically excited CdS thin films at room temperature

Cadmium sulfide thin films, grown by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) on glass substrates, show green photoluminescence and lasing characteristics under optical excitation at room temperature. X-ray diffraction shows the polycrystalline films are of wurtzite structure and have (002) preferred orientation. Laser thresholds are around 1.8 MW cm^-2 and the peak emission is at 501 nm. Fabry-Perot laser modes are spaced at 16 nm indicating cavity lengths of 2.9 μm. Results indicate that laser microcavities are consistently self-formed within the hexagonal lattice.