Unprecedented solid-state laser action from BODIPY dyes under UV-pumping radiation

Highly efficient and stable laser emission is demonstrated under drastic UV pumping conditions from recently synthesized BODIPY dye incorporated into polymer host. Under transversal pumping at 355 nm, lasing efficiencies of up to 29%, similar to those obtained in liquid phase, were obtained, with useful lifetimes (drop of the emission by 50%) of 70,000 pulses at 5 Hz repetition rate. The obtained efficiency and photostability are much higher than those obtained with usual commercial dyes emitting in the same spectral region, such as Coumarin 540A, under the same experimental conditions.