Dye lasers with optically induced distributed feedback

Results are presented of experimental investigations of the characteristics of radiation from a dye laser with an optically induced distributed feedback (DFB) in solid matrices. It is shown that DFB lasers can be used effectively to extend the tuning range of the lasing wavelength into the ultraviolet and infrared. Efficient generation of tunable picosecond pulses in DFB lasers is reported and a new type of DFB laser is described, comprising holographic DFB dye lasers which can emit a narrow radiation line for a pump spectrum of arbitrary width.