Anti-stokes fluorescence of polymethine dyes excited by a titanium-sapphire laser

Abstract

Fluorescence of symmetric polymethine dye solutions (λ ^max_abs ≈ 700 nm) upon anti-Stokes excitation by cw radiation of a titanium-sapphire laser (781 nm) is first investigated. A series of six compounds with analogous composition and spectral and luminescent properties is investigated. It is demonstrated that in addition to the anti-Stokes component, the Stokes component with a maximum at 820 nm (referred to the H-aggregates of initial dyes) is observed in the fluorescence spectra of solutions of the examined molecules when dye concentration increases to 10⁻³ M. Dependences of the anti-Stokes and Stokes component intensities on the exciting radiation power are obtained that confirm a linear excitation character. On examples of xanthene and polymethine dyes, the use of organic fluorophors for anti-Stokes laser cooling and some other possible applications of the anti-Stokes fluorescence are discussed.