Photophysical and lasing properties of pyrromethene 567 dye in solid poly(trifluoromethyl methacrylate) matrices with different degrees of crosslinking

The effect of increasing the rigidity of the host matrix by controlled cros slinking of the polymeric chains on the lasing and photophysical properties of pyrromethene 567 (PM567) was evaluated. To this end, the dye was dissol ved in 2,2,2-trifluoromethyl methacrylate (TFMA) together with different am ounts of the crosslinking monomer ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA). I ncreasing the concentration of this crosslinker monomer resulted in signifi cant increases in both lasing efficiency and photostability. Good correlati on between fluorescence and lasing properties has been observed, indicating the existence of an optimum degree of crosslinking for which lasing effici ency and photostabilty reach their highest values. These new solid material s show lasing efficiencies up to 18% when transversely pumped at 534 nm and good photostabilities, with a decrease in the initial laser output of 45% after 10 000 pump pulses.