Active media for tunable lasers based on hybrid polymers

The lasing properties of rhodamine 6G (chloride and perchlorate) in synthesised hybrid polymers based on an organic polymer (methyl methacrylate with hydroxyethyl methacrylate) and an inorganic precursor (tetraethoxysilane) are studied. Rhodamine 6G samples were transversely pumped by the second harmonic of a Nd³⁺:YAG laser. It is found that the active media based on hybrid polymers have a considerably longer service life compared to the active media based on organic polymers. The structure of the hybrid polymer is studied by the methods of IR Fourier spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and thermogravimetry. It is shown that the longer service life of hybrid-polymer active media is explained by the formation of an inorganic nanostructure network in them, which improves the thermooptic properties of the material and reduces the efficiency of thermal decomposition of active molecules.