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Optical pumping of polymer sheets containing laser dyes and TiO(2) nanoparticle scatterers results in emissions that exhibit laser behavior with linewidths as low as 4 nm. The input-output characteristics, effects of index matching on the emission, damage thresholds, wavelength stability, and possible applications of these new materials are discussed.

A laser model based on feedback produced by scattering has been developed to explain the narrow linewidth emission and input-output behavior observed in scattering gain media. The model is based on the transient two-level laser equations and includes the detailed spectral properties of the dye gain system. Monte Carlo methods were employed to calculate the threshold gain required for modeling the input-output and linewidth emission characteristics.