title: Optical gain in DNA-DCM for lasing in photonic materials.
abstract: We present a detailed study of the gain length in an active medium obtained by doping of DNA strands with 4-(dicyanomethylene)-2-methyl-6-(4-dimethylaminostyryl)-4H-pyran dye molecules. The superior thermal stability of the composite and its low quenching permit one to obtain an optical gain coefficient larger than 300 cm(-1). We also demonstrate that such an active material is feasible for the infiltration into photonic nanostructures, allowing one to obtain fluorescent photonic crystals and promising lasing properties.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Roma La Sapienza, I-00185 Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leonetti
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sapienza
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ibisate
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.forename: Cefe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: López
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D007834:Lasers; D008422:Materials Testing; D017785:Photons; D011714:Pyrans / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D013343:Styrenes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D011714:Pyrans; D013343:Styrenes; D004247:DNA; C082825:4-(dicyanomethylene)-2-methyl-6-(4-(dimethylamino)styryl)-4H-pyran