Two-photon-pumped amplified spontaneous emission and cavity lasing of an organic dye HEASPS in PHEMA polymer

Abstract

Two-photon-absorption (TPA)-induced upconverted amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) and cavity lasing of a styrylpyridinium dye: trans-4-[p-(N-hydroxyethyl-N-ethylamino)styryl]-N-methylpyridinium p-toluene sulfonate (abbreviated as HEASPS) in poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (abbreviated as PHEMA) polymer were observed under a picosecond pump condition. The spectral and temporal behaviors of TPA-induced fluorescence, ASE and cavity lasing were studied. The cavity lasing with a total oscillation time of more than 200 ps was achieved when pumped with 1064-nm, 50-ps laser irradiation. The population inversion could persist for three times longer than the duration of the pump pulse. The gain coefficients of the dye-doped polymer at various wavelengths were calculated based on cavity lasing spectra and one-photon fluorescence spectra.