Abstract

Notwithstanding the general belief that dye molecules absorbing beyond 1 µm are photochemically highly unstable and thus useless for laser action, we started investigating recently synthesized dyes for long-wavelength application. For a series of dyes, absorption and fluorescence spectra, fluorescence quantum efficiencies, S₁ lifetimes, and, most important, photochemical stability were measured.¹ We found a number of molecules which show favorable properties making the dyes useful for IR lasers. Various laser dyes were studied in different experimental systems demonstrating the versatility of applications.

© 1984 Optical Society of America