SOLID STATE LASERS TUNABLE IN THE VISIBLE SPECTRUM AND NON-LINEAR MATERIALS IN GLASSES

Abstract: A new family of sol id s t a t e photostable tunable lasers i n the v is ib le is prepared by incorporation of a number of perylimide dyes i n to inorganic glasses o r in to composite materials prepared from inorganic glass with organic polymers. The lasers may be prepared i n a bulk form or i n thin films on a glass support. enabling s ingle mode operation. The same techniques a re also used for preparation of nonlinear materials whereby a large number of organic molecules or semiconductor par t ic les are introduced in to the glasses. Recently, a considerable e f fo r t has been extended toward the search for tunable lasers made of sol id inorganic materials operating i n the v is ib le part of the spectrum [I-71. Toward th i s end, the sol-gel process fo r glass preparation is especially suitable. It enables single o r multiple component glasses to be prepared a t temperatures low enough i n order not t o destroy the organic molecules [8]. The glass preparation allows adding of an organic molecule to the solution to be homogeneously incorporated in the f i na l glass provided the dye dissolves i n th