Dye laser emission in liquid crystal hosts

Laser action in dyes dissolved in liquid crystal matrices is described. Planar thin film structures, filled with rhodamine 6G dissolved in CBOA, M24, and K18 liquid crystals, have been studied. Lasing action has been obtained in the isotropic, nematic, and smectic mesophases. In liquid crystal mesophases, alignment of the lasing dye molecules was achieved, as is evident from the polarized properties of the emitted light and by the pumping characteristics.