Perylenediimide-based distributed feedback lasers with holographic relief gratings on dichromated gelatin

One dimensional second-order distributed feedback (DFB) lasers consisting of polystyrene (PS) films doped with a perylenediimide laser dye, deposited over dichromated gelatine (DCG) photoresist layers with solvent resistant relief gratings recorded by holographic lithography, are reported. 

The advantage of using the grating on DCG in the final device is that the fabrication process is simplified and the grating pattern better preserved, since no etching methods to transfer the grating to another substrate are needed. A very simple model, proposed to explain the experimental waveguide properties, has allowed identifying the waveguide mode at which DFB emission appears, which was the key to optimize the device performance. In the frame of this model, the thickness of the PS and DCG films could be adjusted in order to minimize the laser threshold and to control its wavelength tuneability. The performance of these lasers is comparable to that of recently reported devices based on the same active material, but deposited over high-quality DFB gratings engraved on SiO2 by nanoimprint lithography.