Dye-doped sol-gel derived silica laser tunable from 352 nm to 387 nm.

Broadband fluorescence emission ranging from 350–400 nm was observed from Exalite 377E (E377)-doped sol-gel silica in bulk form or in thin-film form. The fluorescence spectra of sol-gel samples of low dye concentrations (∼7×10[sup -5] M) show a two peak structure at 360 nm and 378 nm. Wideband tuning between 352 nm and 387 nm was obtained from a E377-doped sol-gel silica slab pumped by a short pulse (1 ns) N[sub 2] laser at 337 nm. The laser tuning curve also showed a two peak structure at 360 nm and 378 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]