Systems and methods for microdisk and multiplet laser particles

A system comprising:

• a microparticle formed from a columnar structure comprising:
• a first optical cavity situated about a first gain medium;
• a second optical cavity situated about a second gain medium;
• and
• a first spacer region contacting the first gain medium and the second gain medium,
• wherein the first optical cavity and the second optical cavity each generate laser light with a distinct spectral peak when energetically excited,
• wherein the first gain medium, the first spacer region, and the second gain medium are epitaxially grown layers, and
• wherein the first spacer region comprises an epitaxially grown semiconductor material that has a composition that allows the first spacer region to be selectively etched with respect to the first gain medium and the second gain medium without substantially affecting a volume or form of the first and second optical cavities.

A method of making a plurality of photonic microparticles, the method comprising:

• preparing a semiconductor wafer comprising:
• a substrate layer;
• a first layer positioned above the substrate layer and formed of a first gain medium including one or more inorganic materials;
• a second layer positioned above the substrate layer and formed of a second gain medium including one or more inorganic materials;
• a first spacer layer positioned between the first layer and the second layer,
• wherein the first gain medium, the first spacer layer, and the second gain medium are epitaxially grown layers;
• and
• etching the first layer, the first spacer layer, and the second layer to produce a plurality of columnar structures,
• wherein the columnar structures extend from the substrate layer and each includes a first optical cavity situated about the first gain medium, a second optical cavity situated about the second gain medium, and a first spacer region contacting the first gain medium and the second gain medium,
• wherein the first optical cavity and the second optical cavity each generate laser light with multiple distinct spectral peaks when energetically excited, and
• wherein the first spacer region comprises an epitaxially grown semiconductor material that has a composition that allows the first spacer region to be selectively etched with respect to the first gain medium and the second gain medium without substantially affecting a volume or form of the first and second optical cavities.

A method of emitting laser light within a biological sample, the method comprising:

• placing one or more photonic particles in the biological sample, wherein the one or more of the photonic particles comprise:
• a first optical cavity situated about a first gain medium;
• a second optical cavity situated about a second gain medium;
• a first spacer region contacting both the first gain medium and the second gain medium;
• wherein the first optical cavity and second optical cavity each generate laser light with a distinct spectral peak when energetically excited, and the spectral peak generated by the first optical cavity is different than the spectral peak generated by the second optical cavity,
• wherein the first gain medium, the first spacer region, and the second gain medium are epitaxially grown layers, and
• wherein the first spacer region comprises an epitaxially grown semiconductor material that has a composition that allows the first spacer region to be selectively etched with respect to the first gain medium and the second gain medium without substantially affecting a volume or form of the first and second optical cavities;
• and
• energetically exciting or stimulating the photonic particles to cause the photonic particles to emit laser light.