Generation of microsecond laser pulses in polyurethane matrices doped with dyes

Active laser elements based on polyurethane matrices doped with rhodamine 6G and oxazine 17 dyes are fabricated and tested. Lasing in the yellow–green and red spectral regions is obtained upon excitation of these matrices by a dye laser at 532 nm. The spectral and spatial–angular parameters of emission are studied. It is shown that these parameters are similar for polymer and liquid dye lasers. It is confirmed that pump radiation causes strong thermal distortions of active polymer media and the degree of influence of these distortions on lasing is demonstrated in experiments. The tuning of a laser based on a rhodamine 6G-doped polymer matrix is demonstrated in the range between 579 and 601 nm.