An Electron Pumped, Thin Film, Solid Host Dye Laser

这个小型企业创新研究第一阶段项目旨在证明由高能电子泵浦的薄膜固体宿主染料激光的可行性。固体宿主染料激光器是感兴趣的，因为它们提供可调性和波长范围，脉冲宽度和重复率的选择，而不需要溶剂/染料循环和处理；固体基质也可以改善染料的使用寿命和性能。近年来，Jet Process Corporation （JPC）利用其Jet Vapor Deposition （JVD）薄膜技术成功制备了块状固体主体染料激光介质；这些都是基于JVD“有机客体-无机主体”薄膜，其中罗丹明6G分子被高浓度捕获在二氧化硅等薄膜中。YAG激光器发出的绿光泵浦刺激捕获的罗丹明6G分子的激光发射。在第一阶段，JPC建议研究固体中高能电子的泵浦，作为激光或闪光灯光泵浦的替代方案。如果成功的话，这一策略将会产生一种由小型电源或电池泵浦的便携式染料激光器。此外，薄膜电子泵浦染料激光器可以很容易地集成到新型集成光学电子电路中。这些器件将完全由低成本的JVD技术制造，并且在医学和工业中的许多应用和市场将成为可能。为了在第一阶段测试这一想法，JPC将使用JVD主客体技术在透明导电氧化铟薄膜中捕获罗丹明6G分子，构建二极管，并寻找作为施加电压和电流的函数的光发射。第一阶段的成功将证实染料激光手术的新方法；在第二阶段，JPC将优化激光功率和效率，制造便携式低成本染料激光器，并将薄膜染料激光器集成到微电子电路和器件中。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project aims to demonstrate the feasibility of a thin film solid-host dye laser pumped by energetic electrons. Solid host dye lasers are of interest because they offer tunability and a choice of wavelength range, pulse width and repetition rate without the need for solvent/dye circulation and disposal; solid hosts may improve dye lifetime and performance, as well. Recently, Jet Process Corporation (JPC) used its Jet Vapor Deposition (JVD) thin film technique to successfully make bulk solid host dye laser media; these were based on JVD `organic guest-inorganic host` films in which Rhodamine 6G molecules were trapped at high concentration in films such as silicon dioxide. Pumping by green light from a YAG laser stimulated laser emission from the trapped Rhodamine 6G molecules. In Phase I JPC proposes to investigate pumping by energetic electrons in the solid as an alternative to optical pumping by a laser or flashlamp. If successful, this strategy would lead to a portable dye laser pumped by a small power supply or batteries. In addition, thin film electron pumped dye lasers could easily be incorporated into novel integrated optical electronic circuits. These devices would be entirely fabricated by low cost JVD techniques, and many applications and markets in medicine and industry would become possible. In order to test this idea in Phase I, JPC will use JVD host-guest techniques to trap Rhodamine 6G molecules in transparent conducting indium oxide films, construct a diode, and look for light emission as a function of applied voltage and current flow. Success in Phase I would confirm a new approach to dye laser operation; in Phase II JPC will optimize laser power and efficiency, make a portable low cost dye laser, and integrate thin film dye lasers into microelectronic circuits and devices.