A compact, solid state optical amplifier based on the conjugated polymer poly͓2-methoxy-5-͑2Ј-ethylhexyloxy͒-p-phenylene vinylene͔ has been demonstrated. The amplifier was optically pumped. Gratings were used to couple the signal into and out of the film. The transmitted signal was amplified over 100 times in a 1 mm long waveguide giving 21 dB gain at 630 nm. A gain of Ͼ13 dB was observed at 615 and 650 nm giving a gain bandwidth of Ͼ26 THz. The gain dynamics at pump densities below 5 J/cm 2 are described by an exciton-exciton annihilation model. At higher pump intensities, amplified spontaneous emission and photoinduced losses become significant.
We report a study of light amplification in dilute solutions of the semiconducting polymer poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene-co-benzothiadiazole) (F8BT). The operating characteristics of the F8BT solution amplifier are investigated in detail, and we show that it provides a large optical gain (>40dB∕cm) across a wide (>48nm) spectral bandwidth in the green. The saturation characteristics of the amplifier are found to be in excellent agreement with theoretical predictions, allowing an estimate of the F8BT stimulated emission cross-section, σ. We find σ∼1.7×10−16cm2, comparable with the reported values for established laser dyes and other high-gain conjugated polymers.
Advanced polymer photonic devices are reported. These include a directly diode-pumped polymer laser, a femtosecond polymer laser, and a broadband solid state polymer optical amplifier.
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