Blue, surface-emitting, distributed feedback polyfluorene lasers

TLDR

The study reports fabricating optically pumped solid‑state distributed feedback lasers using two blue‑light‑emitting polyfluorenes as gain media. The lasers were fabricated by solution deposition of thin polyfluorene films onto gratings etched into fused silica substrates. Using a compact Nd:YVO₄ microchip laser as pump, lasing was achieved at 455 nm and 465 nm with low thresholds of ≥4 nJ per pulse, and emission characteristics were examined in relation to grating microstructure.

Abstract

We report the fabrication of optically-pumped solid-state distributed feedback lasers utilizing two blue-light-emitting semiconducting polyfluorenes as gain media. The lasers were readily fabricated by solution deposition of thin polymer films on top of gratings etched into fused silica substrates. A compact Nd:YVO4 microchip laser was used as the pump source for the two polymers studied, and lasing was achieved at 455 and 465 nm. Low threshold energies, ⩾4 nJ per pulse, were obtained. The emission characteristics of the lasers are described along with the results of additional experiments that investigate in more detail the effect of the grating microstructure on polymer light emission.