Organic semiconductor distributed feedback (DFB) laser as excitation source in Raman spectroscopy

Abstract

Abstract:As an application of organic semiconductor distributed feedback (DFB) lasers we demonstrate their use as excitation sources in Raman spectroscopy. We employed an efficient small molecule blend, a high quality resonator and a novel encapsulation method resulting in an improved laser output power, a reduced laser line width and an enhanced power stability. Based on theses advances, Raman spectroscopy on selected substances was enabled. Raman spectra of sulfur and cadmium sulfide are presented and compared with the ones excited by a helium-neon laser. We also fabricated a spectrally tunable organic semiconductor DFB laser to optimize the Raman signals for a given optical filter configuration.

Thermal effects in thin-film organic solid-state lasers

“…For some applications OSSLs sometimes need to be operated at higher repetition rate (>kHz): for example, applying organic DFB lasers for Raman spectroscopy requires repetition rates up to 10 kHz [3]. In this section we investigate VECSOLs in a virtual high average power regime to question its limitations.…”

“…They have potential applications in the fields of spectroscopy [3], bio/chemo-sensing [4,5] or polymer fiber telecommunications [6]. In the past decade, various OSSL architectures have been developed based on thin-film gain media, realized with cost-effective techniques like spin coating, drop casting, or ink jet printing [7].…”

“…These modest performances have long been a limit for the dissemination of organic solid-state laser technology into the marketplace [17]. However, OSSLs have proven to be excellent tools for absorption spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy in biophotonics experiments [3], even though these demanding applications will keep requiring an ever increasing average power (longer pulses until CW, higher repetition rate) and high device lifetimes.…”

Deep‐Red Lasing and Amplified Spontaneous Emission from Nature Inspired Bay‐Annulated Indigo Derivatives

“…Apart from providing coherent light emission, OSSLs offer several other advantageous features such as wavelength tunability, mechanical flexibility, and low cost with easy solution processing techniques, compared to inorganic counterparts. As a result, OSSLs have potential as a new light source for applications like spectroscopy, chemical/bio‐sensing, and optical data communications …”

Solution-processable, photo-stable, low-threshold, and broadly tunable thin film organic lasers based on novel high-performing laser dyes

“…1,2 Specially important towards achieving compactness, mechanical flexibility and easy integration with other devices, are thin film OSLs (TFOLs), among which, those that can prepared by means of solution-based methods, such as spincoating, printing, etc., are preferred for their prospect of reducing device cost. 2 The distributed feedback (DFB) laser, 1,2 consisting of a waveguide film which includes a relief grating, has been a particularly successful TFOL in various applications in the fields of spectroscopy, 3,4 optical communications 2 and sensing. 5,6 It presents several advantages: it provides single mode emission, which is important for certain applications; it requires low pump energy for operation, thus enabling pumping with compact and cheap sources such as laser diodes or even light emitting diodes (LEDs); the resonator can be easily integrated into other devices; it can be mechanically flexible; has a potentially low production cost; and can be easily integrated with field-effect-transistor geometry, promising for the development of electrically-pumped TFOLs.…”