Abstract
Dye-doped polymer gain media laser samples of pyrromethene-567 in a mixture with methyl methacrylate and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate copolymer have been prepared and synthesized by the Conventional Thermal Polymerization Method (CTPM) using an oven, and by the Gamma Irradiation Polymerization Method (GIPM) using Cobalt-60 (60Co). Physical properties comprising absorption molar coefficients, absorption cross sections, fluorescence quantum yields, fluorescence life times, and emission cross sections were determined and calculated from the measured absorption and emission spectra. The efficiency and photo-stability of samples fabricated by both methods were measured and compared. The time required for synthesis was reduced by 90% using the GIPM. Complete polymerization of the GIPM sample was found to be at 7kGy. Further, the GIPM produces high laser damage resistance material, which might be attributed to the highly dense polymeric network structure formed as a result of the effect of gamma radiation on MMA and HEMA monomers.
•Samples of PM-567 in a mixture with MMA/HEMA were synthesized by the GIPM.•The time required for synthesis was reduced by 90% using the GIPM.•Complete polymerization of the GIPM sample was at 7kGy.•The laser media produced is fast and free of contamination that gives high purity material.•The GIPM produced a high laser damage resistance material.