Lasing in a hybrid-aligned cholesteric

Optically pumped laser generation at a long-wavelength edge of cholesteric photonic bandgap is detected in a dye-doped cholesteric cell with a hybrid alignment, where long axes of cholesteric molecules are parallel to one of the substrates and perpendicular to the opposite substrate in its close vicinity. The hybrid director alignment in the cell is confirmed by polarization optical microscopy observations in both reflection and transmission modes.