Tuning of the emission frequency of a dye laser with a Bragg mirror in the form of a cholesteric liquid crystal

Tuning and narrowing of the emission spectrum of a dye laser were achieved for the first time when a cholesteric liquid crystal was used as a selective Bragg reflector. The average emission frequency of this laser was a function of the spectral position of the Bragg reflection maximum of the oriented liquid crystal layer. The position of the reflection maximum was varied by altering the temperature.