Laser properties of pyrromethene dyes in sol-gel glasses

E. Yariv*, R. Reisfeld

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalConference articlepeer-review

82 Scopus citations

Abstract

Solid-state dye lasers were made by incorporating pyrromethene dyes in organically modified silicate (ormosil) and composite glass matrices. Three different types of pyrromethene (PM) were used: PM 567, PM 580 and PM 597. The ormosil glass samples were prepared by a one-step process at room temperature sol-gel technology which led to the formation of hybrid organic/inorganic materials. The composite glass samples are made by a biphase process: (a) preparation of porous silica gel, (b) impregnation of the dye dissolved in methylmethacrylate (MMA) into the silica gel. A number of various glass compositions were tested and their efficiencies and half output energy lifetimes were measured. The optimal slope efficiency for the lasers pumped transversally, by frequency doubled Nd-Yag laser, approaches 42%. Fluorescence lifetimes, excitation and emission spectra were also measured. In addition, significant dependency of these dyes on pH was found. These dyes lose their lasing ability in acidic (pH < 3) surroundings. This must be considered in the sample preparation.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)49-54
Number of pages6
JournalOptical Materials
Volume13
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1999
EventProceedings of the 1997 1st Spanish-Israeli Workshop on Solid State Lasers - Ein Gedi, Isr
Duration: 14 Dec 199716 Dec 1997

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