Amplified spontaneous emission and recoverable photo degradation in polymer doped with Disperse Orange 11

We report optically pumped lasing action at the attractive wavelength of 650 nm in the common organic dye 1-amino-2-methylanthraquinone (Disperse Orange 11). The dye was incorporated into poly(methyl methacrylate) rods, and amplified spontaneous emission was studied under second-harmonic Nd:YAG laser excitation in a transverse pumping configuration. Gain and conversion efficiency were found to be comparable with those for other laser dyes. Dye photodegradation was found to be superior and reversible. (C) 2002 Optical Society of America.