Solvent effects in oscillator/amplifier configured dye lasers

While it is usually necessary to use separate oscillator and amplifier cells in the optimization of the output of dye lasers excited by high powered pump lasers, under the assumption that the dye-solvent combination yielding maximum oscillator output is also optimal for use in the amplifier, attention is presently given to a case in which two different solvents optimized the output of an oscillator/amplifier dye laser over a region of its tuning range. In addition to increasing either output or tuning range, this method may allow the use of less expensive or toxic dye-solvent mixtures in at least one stage of the dye laser.