Dye Lasers

The principles of dye laser operation and the experimental techniques that are used to generate high power continuously tunable narrowband dye laser radiation, are extensively reviewed. The basic physical processes that occur in laser dyes are covered, and rate equation models that are used to explain the operation of CW and pulsed dye lasers are discussed. Principles and techniques of spectral narrowing and tuning of pulsed and CW dye lasers, generation of multiple tunable wavelengths, and frequency stabilization of CW dye lasers are addressed. High average power dye lasers, mainly flashlamp pumped systems, are considered, and methods of obtaining high power in narrow-band operation from pulsed dye lasers using oscillator-amplifier systems and injection locked oscillators are reviewed. Work on dye vapor lasers is briefly covered, and a short discussion of laser dyes is accompanied by a compilation of such dyes.