Laser action in rhodamine 6G doped titania-containing ormosils

A new titania-containing ormosil xerogel derived from 80 mol% glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS) and 20 mol% titanum alkoxide (Ti(OBu)(4)) modified by methyl methacrylate (MMA) was synthesized via the sol-gel method as dye laser host. Two kinds of matrices, one without initiator for the polymerization of MMA and another with benzoyl peroxide initiator, were prepared. Their optical properties, microstructure characteristics and surface laser damage thresholds are reported. Laser oscillation was easily achieved in all hand-polished Rhodamine 6G doped titania-containing ormosil xerogels. The effects of dye concentration and dye-matrix combination on the fluorescent emission, slope efficiency, photostability and tunable bandwidth were examined. Benzoyl peroxide is confirmed to be effective in improving the matrix density, but it is harmful to the laser behavior of Rhodamine 6G dye. A laser efficiency of 13% and photostability of 12 GJ/mol were obtained in a 2 x 10(-4) M Rhodamine 6G doped dye laser. A brief comparison of laser performance and matrix properties of Rhodamine 6G doped dye lasers based on the present matrix and PMMA, ormosil and sol-gel silica glass is made. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.