Efficiency and photostability of dye-doped solid-state lasers in different hosts

We survey the preparation procedures of pyrromethene (PM) and rhodamine dyes in silica, silica-zirconia, organically modified silicate (ormosii) and organic polymer matrices. Absorption and luminescence spectra, as well as decay time fluorescence of pyrromethene dyes are given. The solid-state laser samples were tested and their efficiencies and photostabilities at transversal pumping configuration, are given. Pyrromethene 597 had the best laser dye performance with slope efficiency of 43.3% when doped in ormosil glass and high photostability when doped in poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). Analysis and explanations for the results are given. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.