SOLID-STATE CAVITY LASING FROM POLY(P-PHENYLENE VINYLENE) SILICA NANOCOMPOSITE BULK

We have fabricated inorganic-organic nanocomposite bulk samples consis ting of poly(p-phenylene vinylene) (PPV) and silica by in situ polymer ization of a PPV salt monomer within a porous glass using a base-catal yzed polymerization reaction and subsequent heat treatment. The sample s processed at temperatures above 200 degrees C showed a sharp reducti on in fluorescence. Solid-state cavity lasing was achieved from the sa mples processed at 150 degrees C with optical efficiency as high as 11 .4%. We report characteristic narrowing of the linewidth and the tempo ral profile. (C) 1998 Optical Society of America.