"Segmented" Solid Host Dye Lasers

TO DATE, CANDIDATE HOST MATERIALS, SUCH AS PLASTICS AND SOL-GEL GLASSES, AS WELL AS METHODS OF HOST FABRICATION EMPLOYING THEM, HAVE NOT PTOVEN OPTIMAL. THEY REQUIRE CONVERSION OF A DYE-DOPED LIQUID PRECURSOR TO THE FINAL SOLID HOST; WE PROPOSE AN ALTERNATIVE FABRICATION APPROACH BASED ON VAPOR DEPOSITION AND EXPLORATION OF OTHER MATERIALS. HIGH QUALITY THIN GLASS PLATE OR OPTICAL FIBER "SEGMENTS" WILL BE COATED WITH A DYE-DOPED CERAMIC THIN FILM; THE PLATES OR FIBERS WILL BE ASSEMBLED INTO A STACK OR FIBER BUNDLE WHICH COMPRISES THE SOLID DYE LASER. IN PHASE I WE WILL USE JVD TO DEPOSIT RHODAMINE 6G-DOPED CERAMIC FILMS ON GLASS SLIDES AND SILICA OPTICAL FIBERS; THESE WILL BE ASSEMBLED INTO SOLID HOST DYE LASERS AND TESTED FOR LASER ACTION AND PHOTODEGRADATION.