Wide-Wavelength-Range Operation of a Distributed-Feedback Dye Laser with a Plastic Waveguide

Abstract

A compact distributed-feedback (DFB) dye laser with a plastic waveguide was developed. The DFB operation was attained by the interference of two pumping beams from a frequency-doubled pulsed Nd:YAG laser, and a wavelength range between 560 nm and 994 nm was continuously covered. The dye chip can instantaneously exchanged in any spectrum region. The threshold energy was decreased to the order of 100 µJ with the waveguide configuration. The maximum life of the dye chip was 106 shots.