Evaluation of new organic pigments as laser-active media for a solid-state dye laser

Solid-state dye lasers are small, low-cost, simple, and coherent light sources. These lasers can output a laser beam at many wavelengths by changing the organic dyes or pigments. Photodegradation of the laser-active medium, however, is difficult with this type of laser. Research regarding new fluorescent materials that are not easily degraded by exposure to the pump light is therefore important in developing practical applications for solid-state dye lasers. In the present study, six new organic pigments were synthesized and evaluated as the active medium of the solid-state dye laser. The issues evaluated were: (1) whether the pigments can oscillate as laser medium or not; and (2) degradation by exposure to UV light. As a result of the evaluation, each of the six pigments oscillated as laser medium and green and yellow laser oscillations were obtained. The pigments were also found to have degradation characteristics similar to those of Rhodamine B. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.