Broadening of the tuning range of dye laser radiation by utilization of excited-state relaxation processes

A review is given of lasers utilizing multicomponent dye solutions and photochemical lasers relying on fast proton phototransfer reactions in organic compounds. An analysis is made of the influence of fast reversible photochemical reactions and electron energy transfer processes on broadening of the spectral tuning range of dye laser radiation. Criteria guiding the selection of acid-base systems for the active media of photochemical lasers and of donor-acceptor systems for the active media of energy-transfer lasers are formulated. Spectral characteristics of the active media of photochemical lasers and also of binary dye mixtures of energy-transfer lasers are presented.