Optical gain from InAs nanocrystal quantum dots in a polymer matrix

We report on the observation of optical gain from InAs nanocrystal quantum dots which emit at 1.55 microns and are imbedded in a novel polymer platform. The measurements are based on a three-beam time resolved pump-probe technique, which enables extracting the intrinsic gain cross section, lifetime, and recovery time. These experiments are another step toward the realization of active optical devices based on InAs nanocrystals.