Study of the Correlation between Degradation of Kiton Red S Laser Dye and Degradation of Laser Energy under Flash Conditions

摘要

The laser dye Kiton Red S dissolved in ethanol was degraded under flashlamp excitation in a dye laser. Data obtained with infrared spectral analysis were used to construct plots of dye concentration versus shot number. From these plots the degradation reaction was found to be zeroth order in Kiton Red S. A rate equation was determined. Laser energy was monitored in order to allow for a comparison between laser degradation and dye degradation. The effect of both different oxygen concentrations and different excitation wavelengths on the reaction rate was observed. Based upon the experimental results a reaction mechanism was proposed. Two photoreaction products were postulated, one which absorbs laser radiation, and another which is reactive with the triplet dye molecules. (Author)