Lasers: Organic Semiconductors and Polymers

Organic semiconductors, and conjugated polymers in particular, are emerging as an interesting new class of visible laser media. The polymers are electroluminescent, broadband visible emitters and exhibit large optical gain coefficients. As plastics, they are amenable to simple processing, and can be shaped into complex structures. This combination of photonic, electronic, and processing properties make these materials extremely well suited to forming novel microlasers, with future prospects as inexpensive, plastic diode lasers operating throughout the visible spectrum.