Influence of energy transfer on fluorescence and lasing properties of various laser dyes co-doped in ORMOSILs

Laser dye perylene red (p-red) was co-doped with coumarin 440 (C440) and/or pyrromethene 567 (p567) into MTES-derived organically modified silicates (ORMOSILs) by sol–gel process. Energy transfer among C440, p567 and p-red has been observed. The fluorescence and lasing properties of such energy transfer dye lasers have been investigated. Improved laser efficiency of p-red and broad tunable range as wide as 60 nm were obtained. The effect of dye concentration on energy transfer, laser efficiency and tunable range were also discussed. With the presence of C440 and/or p567, the laser lifetime of p-red exceeded 45 000 pulses at pump intensity beyond 0.5 J/cm2.