Spectroscopy and laser action of the “red perylimide dye” in various solvents

Abstract

Optical properties of the red perylimide laser dye in various solvents are studied. The absorption spectrum exhibits two main bands, in the ranges 480–600 and 400–460 nm, due to the S 0–S 1 and S 0–S 2 transition. The fluorescence spectrum is a mirror image of the S 0–S 1 absorption (shift of ∼ 30–50 nm). The Stokes shift increases with solvent polarity. Such dye-solvent interactions are compared to theoretical predictions. The fluorescence quantum yields approaches unity in all the solvents studied. Laser tunability around 30 nm was obtained each time, covering the spectral range 580–640 nm. This interval is important for medical applications in photodynamic therapy and fluorescence diagnostics. The laser threshold energy varied from 0.35 mJ/pulse in cyclohexane to 1.87 mJ/pulse in methanol, and the slope efficiency from about 6.6% in methanol to 14% in xylenes. The laser output was stable for several hours of operation under an average pump energy of about 20 mJ/pulse at 1 Hz repetition rate, without flow.