| abstract |
Rigidized carbocyanine dyes including at least two nitrogencontaiing heterocyclic nuclei with a nitrogen atom of each nucleus joined by a 5 carbon polyene chain, each heterocyclic nucleus also having the non-metallic atoms to complete, in combination with the two nitrogen atoms and the carbon atoms of the intervening polyene chain, a nucleus which is either 3,4,5a, 6,7,8-hexahydro-4aH-pyrano(3,2-c;-5,6-c'' dipyridine or an analog wherein the member in the 5-position is alternatively one such as a sulfur atom, a nitrogen atom, a selenium atom, etc., are useful as laser dyes in dye lasers. The dye laser generally includes a reservoir means for containing a laser dye solution and a pumping energy source capable of producing stimulated emission of the laser dye solution which itself includes a lasing concentration of the laser dye in a non-interfering solvent. |