LASER-EMISSION OF A FLASH-LAMP PUMPED RHODAMINE 6-G SOLID COPOLYMER SOLUTION

A Rhodamine 6 G solid solution in a copolymer of 2 hydroxyethyl methac rylate and methyl methacrylate have been flash-lamp pumped in an untun ed laser cavity. The pumping energy threshold to obtain laser emission is 20 percent higher than in equivalent methanol solutions. With a fl ash-lamp electrical excitation average energy of 150 joules per pulse, no photodegradation was observed in the laser emission after more tha n 30 pumping pulses. There was an absence of local irregular fluctuati ons found typically in high Fresnel number dye lasers. An interpretati on based on the assumption of stereospecificity in the lodging cavity of dye molecules, is consistent with the high photostability and the a bsence of local fluctuations obtained with this polymeric solid-state laser. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.