CHARACTERIZATION OF DYE-LASER PUMPING USING A HIGH-POWER KRF EXCIMER LASER AT 248 NM

Dye laser characterization with respect to efficiency and dye degradation is reported for four dyes pumped by a commercially available KrF excimer laser. The dyes (paraterphenyl, BBQ, rhodamine 6G, and 7-diethylamino-4-trifluoromethyl coumarin with lasing maxima from 340 to 580 nm) exhibited constant efficiency up to the maximum pumping energy of 160 mJ. Measurement of dye degradation with 0. 2 W average power pumping at 248 nm indicated useful dye lifetimes in excess of 20 h for 125 mL of solution in a flowing dye system.