Blue superradiance from neat semiconducting alternating copolymer films

Blue superradiant emission in thin polymer films with a low energy threshold, as reported here, offers hope for the possible development of solid-state electrically pumped polymer lasers The absorbance, emission, and fluorescence spectra of the blue-light emitting copolymer poly[dimethylsilylene-p-phenylene-vinylene-(2,5-di-n-octyl-p-phenylene)-vinytene-p-phenylene] are presented and discussed. It is suggested that lasing in the superradiant regime occurs as a result of the combination of optically induced net gain and waveguiding in the thin film.