Properties of two-photon pumped cavity lasing in novel dye doped solid matrices

Two-photon pumped frequency upconversion cavity lasing at ∼600 nm is accomplished in three types of dye-doped solid rods pumped with ∼10 ns and 1.06-μm IR laser pulses. The dopant is a new dye, trans-4-[p-(N-ethyl-N-(hydroxyethyl)amino)styryl]-N-methylpyridinium tetraphenylborate, abbreviated as ASPT, which possesses a greater two-photon absorption cross section and stronger upconversion fluorescence emission than common commercial dyes (such as rhodamine). Three different materials were chosen as solid matrices: poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate), VYCOR porous glass, and sol-gel glass. Using a Q-switched Nd:YAG pulse laser as the pump source, strong cavity lasing could be achieved in these three ASPT doped solid rods as well as in ASPT solution in a liquid cell. The spectral, temporal, and spatial characteristics of the cavity lasing output have been systematically investigated. The measured output-input characteristics, lasing lifetime, and damage threshold for the three different rods are presented.