Measurement of fluorescence decay times of laser dyes, 1. Behavior of rigid and mobile media with respect to signal extraction and signal propagation, 2

Experimental techniques are described that distinguish or avoid these errors and that permit the measurement of accurate decay times and quantum yields. As a signal propagates and amplifies in a dye laser medium, the average excited state lifetime expectancy, or turnover time of the dye molecules becomes shorter and shorter. As it becomes comparable to the orientational relaxation time, propagation occurs through a mobile, viscous and rigid medium in turn. Extraction of stored energy and signal propagation are examined for the two extreme situations-mobil and rigid media.