SOLID-STATE DYE-LASER BASED ON COUMARIN 540A-DOPED POLYMERIC MATRICES

Coumarin 540-A has been dissolved in a copolymer of 2-hydnxyethyl meth acrylate (HEMA) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) 1:1 v/v and in a purl po ly(methyl methacrylate) homopolymer (PMMA). Laser action has been indu ced in the resulting solid-slate solutions pumped with 1.2 mJ pulses a t 337 nm from a nitrogen laser. The effects on the laser performance o f different polymerization methods, dye concentration and polymeric ma trix composition have been evaluated. Energy conversion efficiencies o f Ileo and lifetimes of about 2000 pulses at 2 Hz repetition rate have been demonstrated.