Efficient Polymer Dye Lasers with Variable Wavelengths For Medical Applications

摘要

Presented here are experimental results for a new high-energy/intensity polymer dye laser, with different laser resistant modified polymer elements impregnated with pyrromethene dyes. These polymers were manufactured in Russia. They were pumped by a frequency doubled Medlite~(TM) IV Nd:YAG laser developed by Continuum Biomedical with pulse energies up to 560mJ, pulse width 5 to 7ns with a beam size of 6mm and intensities up to 400MW/cm~2. A maximum dye laser output energy up to 450mJ at 585nm and up to 310mJ at 650nm were achieved in broadband operation mode. Overall efficiency >80% at 585nm and >50% at 650nm were obtained at pump fluences up to 2J/cm~2. Variable wavelengths of 560 and 585nm in the yellow spectral range and 630 and 650nm in the red spectral range were demonstrated by choosing the proper polymer element with different laser dyes and a specially designed dichroic high reflector. A stable output of 250mJ for more than 50,000 pulses at 585nm and 150mJ for more than 20,000 pulses at 650nm has been achieved with the Multilite~(TM) Dye Laser Handpiece developed by Continuum Biomedical. This was achieved with pump energies up to 400mJ.