Blue surface-emitting distributed feedback lasers based on TPD-doped films

Single-mode second-order distributed feedback (DFB) lasers with low threshold, based on polystyrene films doped with 30 wt.% of the hole-transporting organic molecule N,N'-bis (3-methylphenyl)-N,N'-diphenylbenzidine (TPD) are reported. The laser emission wavelength was tuned between 415 and 427 nm by film thickness variation. The effectiveness of the DFB grating in improving the laser performance is evidenced by the observation of linewidths and laser thresholds lower than those of the amplified spontaneous emission characteristics shown by films without gratings. The use of holographic lithography as the technique for grating recording has allowed us to prepare large samples in a fast, versatile, and simple manner. (C) 2010 Optical Society of America