Polymer-filled microporous glass matrices for efficient solid-state dye lasers

Summary form only given. The search for high-performance solid hosts for dye lasers continues to be an important direction in laser material science and technology. In previous work, modified polymethylmethacrylate (MPMMA) was found to be a very effective host for high-efficiency solid-state dye lasers (SSDL). MPMMA, however, has important disadvantages in laser applications requiring operation at high repetition rates and over wide temperature ranges. These limitations are due to the relatively poor mechanical and thermo-optical properties of this organic matrix In this paper, we extend the previous studies by performing a comprehensive investigation of polymer filled microporous glass (PFMPG) doped with a number of laser dyes taken from different chemical families. In particular, the studies included measurements of both nonlaser (absorption and fluorescence spectra) and light scattering losses.