Performance of Pyrromethene 580 and 597 in a commercial Nd:YAG-pumped dye-laser system

We report the performance of two new laser dyes, Pyrromethene 580 and 597, in a 10-Hz, Nd:YAG-pumped dye-laser system. These dyes demonstrate broader and more efficient tuning curves compared with those of Rhodamine 590 and 610. Pyrromethene 580 and 597 provide peak conversion efficiencies of 38% at 552 nm and 32% at 571 nm, respectively. Moreover, these new dyes provide conversion efficiencies of 31% near 572.5 nm, a wavelength used for fluorescence studies of NO. This enhanced efficiency should improve the signal-to-noise ratio in linear fluorescence [NO] measurements.