AVS 45th International Symposium
    Organic Electronic Materials Topical Conference Monday Sessions
       Session OE+EM-MoM

Invited Paper OE+EM-MoM7
Gain, Amplified Spontaneous Emission and Lasing in Semiconducting Polymers

Monday, November 2, 1998, 10:20 am, Room 327

Session: Organic Thin Film Devices I: Light Emitters
Presenter: A.J. Heeger, University of California, Santa Barbara
Authors: M.D. McGehee, University of California, Santa Barbara
R. Gupta, University of California, Santa Barbara
E.K. Miller, University of California, Santa Barbara
A.J. Heeger, University of California, Santa Barbara
Correspondent: Click to Email
Because of the high absorption coefficients, the high density of chromophores, and the Stokes-shifted luminescence, luminescent semiconducting polymers have potential as low threshold laser media. Optically pumped amplified spontaneous emission has been demonstrated in submicron films of ¼-conjugated polymers as the active materials. Resonant structures appropriate for photopumped lasers include microcavities, distributed feedback (DFB) substrates, and whispering gallery mode micro-discs and micro-rings. Photopumped stimulated emission and lasing have been observed in a growing number of highly luminescent polymers with emission wavelengths that span the visible spectrum. Progress in the areas of polymer lasers will be reviewed and the possibility of electrically pumped diode lasers (fabricated from semiconducting polymers) will be explored.