Characterization of Two-Color Holography Performance in Reduced LiNbO(3):In

The two-color recording sensitivity S and the figure of merit M/# are measured in a reduced and congruent LiNbO(3):In crystal of 2.2-mm thickness. The results are compared with those before reduction treatment. It is found that S increases by an order of magnitude through reduction treatment but the M/# is unchanged. Measured values for S and M/# in the reduced crystal are found to be 3 x 10(-3) cm/J and 0.04, respectively, with a total writing intensity of 4.0 W/cm(2) at 780 nm and a gating intensity of 1.15 W/cm(2) at 488 nm. These values are close to those of near-stoichiometric LiNbO(3) crystals under similar recording conditions. We also show that photoconductivity plays an important role in the improvement of S in LiNbO(3):In.     

Donor/acceptor effects on the nonlinear optical properties of 1,3 diphenyl propenones

Employing the single beam Z-scan technique with nanosecond laser pulses at 532 nm, the refractive and absorptive nonlinearities of donor and acceptor substituted (2E)-1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-3-phenylprop-2-en-1-one have been studied. The sign of the nonlinear index of refraction (n ₂) is found to be negative and the magnitude of n ₂ is in the order of 10^?11 esu. The second-order molecular hyperpolarizability (γ_h) is calculated to be in the order of 10^?32 esu. The variation of nonlinear absorption coefficient (β_eff) with input intensity (I ₀) is studied and the nonlinear absorption mechanism is found to be reverse saturable absorption (RSA). The enhancement of nonlinearity due to the donor and acceptor substitution is in accordance with the variation in π electron delocalization in the molecules. The compounds exhibit good optical limiting as well.     

Femtosecond Z-scan investigation of nonlinear refraction in surface modified PbS nanoparticles

The third-order optical nonlinearities of surface modified PbS nanoparticles have been measured using the Z-scan technique with femtosecond laser pulses at 780 nm wavelength. The samples studied are the nanoparticles in microemulsion with the PbS concentration ranging from 0.3×10⁻³ to 1.9×10⁻³ M (mol/l). A Z-scan analysis method based on the Huygens–Fresnel (H–F) propagation integral is employed to extract the nonlinear refractive index from the experimental Z-scan data with a large nonlinear phase shift. The nonlinear refractive index of the PbS nanoparticles in microemulsion is found to increase linearly with the PbS concentration. The highest concentration microemulsion gives a nonlinear refractive index of −4.7×10⁻¹² cm²/W, which is approximately 3 orders of magnitude higher than those of commercially available bulk semiconductors, such as ZnS and CdS. In addition, nonlinear absorption in these samples remained unmeasurable up to 0.9 GW/cm². The mechanisms responsible for the observed large refractive nonlinearity are discussed.     

Large nonlinear optical response of a Bi1.5Zn1.0Nb1.5O7 thin film fabricated by pulsed laser deposition

The Bi_1.5Zn_1.0Nb_1.5O₇ (BZN) thin film has been fabricated on MgO (001) substrate by pulsed laser deposition. The nonlinear optical properties of the BZN film were investigated using Z-scan technique at a wavelength of 532 nm with 25 ps pulse duration. The two-photon absorption coefficient and the nonlinear refractive index of the BZN film were obtained to be 4.2 × 10^− 6 cm/W and 1.6 × 10^− 10 cm²/W respectively, which are comparable with those of some representative nonlinear optical materials. The large and fast response optical nonlinearities indicated that the BZN film is a promising candidate for future photonics devices.     

Influence of electron beam irradiation on nonlinear optical properties of Al doped ZnO thin films for optoelectronic device applications in the cw laser regime

We present the studies on third-order nonlinear optical properties of Al doped ZnO thin films irradiated with electron beam at different dose rate. Al doped ZnO thin films were deposited on a glass substrate by spray pyrolysis deposition technique. The thin films were irradiated using the 8 MeV electron beam from microtron ranging from 1  kG y to 5  kG y. Nonlinear optical studies were carried out by employing the single beam Z-scan technique to determine the sign and magnitude of absorptive and refractive nonlinearities of the irradiated thin films. Continuous wave He–Ne laser operating at 633 nm was used as source of excitation. The open aperture Z-scan measurements indicated the sample displays reverse saturable absorption (RSA) process. The negative sign of the nonlinear refractive index n₂ was noted from the closed aperture Z-scan measurements indicates, the films exhibit self-defocusing property due to thermal nonlinearity. The third-order nonlinear optical susceptibility χ(3) varies from 8.17 × 10⁻⁵ esu to 1.39 × 10⁻³ esu with increase in electron beam irradiation. The present study reveals that the irradiation of electron beam leads to significant changes in the third-order optical nonlinearity. Al doped ZnO displays good optical power handling capability with optical clamping of about ∼5 mW. The irradiation study endorses that the Al doped ZnO under investigation is a promising candidate photonic device applications such as all-optical power limiting.     

Wavelength dependence of repetitive-pulse laser-induced damage threshold in beta-BaB2O4

The dependence on wavelength of repetitive-pulse (10 Hz, 8-10 ns) laser-induced damage on beta barium metaborate (BBO) has been investigated. The thresholds of dielectric breakdown in bulk crystal have been found to be 0.3 GW/cm(2) at 266 nm, 0.9 GW/cm(2) at 355 nm, 2.3 GW/cm(2) at 532 nm, and 4.5 GW/cm(2) at 1064 nm. Results indicate two-photon absorption at 266 and 355 nm, which helps to produce an avalanche effect that causes breakdown at each of the four wavelengths tested. Neither the BBO refractive indices nor the absorption spectrum change until breakdown occurs.     

Nonlinear optical absorption of ZnO doped with copper nanoparticles in the picosecond and nanosecond pulse laser field

The nonlinear absorption of nanocomposite layers based on ZnO implanted with Cu+ ions with an energy of 160 keV in implantation doses of 10(16) and 10(17) ions/cm2 was investigated. The values of the nonlinear absorption coefficient were measured by the Z-scan method at a wavelength of 532 nm by use of nanosecond and picosecond laser pulses. Possible optical applications of these materials are discussed.     

Characterization of near-stoichiometric Ti:LiNbO(3) strip waveguides with varied substrate refractive index in the guiding layer

We have demonstrated the possibility that near-stoichiometric Ti:LiNbO(3) strip waveguides are fabricated by carrying out vapor transport equilibration at 1060 degrees C for 12 h on a congruent LiNbO(3) substrate with photolithographically patterned 4-8 microm wide, 115 nm thick Ti strips. Optical characterizations show that these waveguides are single mode at 1.5 microm and show a waveguide loss of 1.3 dB/cm for TM mode and 1.1 dB/cm for TE mode. In the width/depth direction of the waveguide, the mode field follows the Gauss/Hermite-Gauss function. Secondary-ion-mass spectrometry (SIMS) was used to study Ti-concentration profiles in the depth direction and on the surface of the 6 microm wide waveguide. The result shows that the Ti profile follows a sum of two error functions along the width direction and a complementary error function in the depth direction. The surface Ti concentration, 1/e width and depth, and mean diffusivities along the width and depth directions of the guide are similar to 3.0 x 10(21) cm(-3), 3.8 microm, 2.6 microm, 0.30 and 0.14 microm(2)/h, respectively. Micro-Raman analysis was carried out on the waveguide endface to characterize the depth profile of Li composition in the guiding layer. The results show that the depth profile of Li composition also follows a complementary error function with a 1/e depth of 3.64 microm. The mean ([Li(Li)]+[Ti(Li)])/([Nb(Nb)]+[Ti(Nb)]) ratio in the waveguide layer is about 0.98. The inhomogeneous Li-composition profile results in a varied substrate index in the guiding layer. A two-dimensional refractive index profile model in the waveguide is proposed by taking into consideration the varied substrate index and assuming linearity between Ti-induced index change and Ti concentration. The net waveguide surface index increments at 1545 nm are 0.0114 and 0.0212 for ordinary and extraordinary rays, respectively. Based upon the constructed index model, the fundamental mode field profile was calculated using the beam propagation method, and the mode sizes and effective index versus the Ti-strip width were calculated for three lower TM and TE modes using the variational method. An agreement between theory and experiment is obtained.     

二氧化钛薄膜的三阶非线性光学特性

采用脉冲激光沉积技术在熔石英基片上制备了c轴取向的锐钛矿相TiO₂薄膜.通过X射线衍射和原子力显微镜对薄膜的结构、结晶性和表面特性进行了表征.通过透射光谱计算得到TiO₂薄膜折射率约为2.1,光学带隙约为3.18eV.结合飞秒激光和Z扫描方法测量了薄膜的超快非线性光学特性,结果表明：锐钛矿TiO₂薄膜具有负的非线性吸收系数和负的非线性折射率,其大小分别为-6.2×10^-11m/W和-6.32×10^-17m²/W,对应的三阶非线性极化率的实部和虚部分别为-7.1×10^-11esu和-4.42×10^-12esu.并计算薄膜的优值比T=βλ/n₂≈0.8,表明锐钛矿相的TiO₂在非线性光学器件方面具有潜在的应用前景.     

Tunable diffraction-limited light at 488 nm by single-pass frequency doubling of a broad area diode laser

A laser system that is based on second-harmonic generation of a broad area laser diode and provides 23.2 mW of diffraction-limited light with narrow bandwidth is described. It is tunable from 487.4 to 489 nm. The broad area laser diode is frequency stabilized in an external cavity that yields 800 mW of diffraction-limited light. This infrared light is converted into the visible by use of a 1 cm periodically poled MgO:LiNbO(3) bulk crystal with a measured single-pass conversion efficiency of up to 3.6%/W x cm.     

χ measurements and optical limiting studies of 2-chloro-5-nitro-N′-[(1E)-phenylmethylidene] benzohydrazide with substituents

The nonlinear optical properties of hydrazones substituted with different donor groups were studied using single beam Z-scan technique with nanosecond laser pulses at 532 nm. The nonlinear response in these molecules was found to increase with increase in the donor strength of the substituted group. The χ⁽³⁾ value of these molecules is found to be of the order of 10⁻¹³ esu. The nonlinear refractive index (n₂) of the samples is found to be negative and the largest value of n₂ obtained for the strong donor-substituted molecule is −8.83 × 10⁻¹¹ esu. All samples show good optical limiting behavior at 532 nm. The best optical limiting behavior was observed with the molecule substituted by a strong electron donor.     

Hologram recording in polyvinyl alcohol/acrylamide photopolymers by means of pulsed laser exposure

The variation in transmittance produced when a photopolymer is irradiated with a pulsed laser is analyzed and experimental results obtained when diffraction gratings are stored using pulsed exposure are presented. In either case, the influence of the energy of the irradiation pulse, the number of pulses, and the pulse repetition rate were studied. The photopolymer used was an acrylamide/polyvinyl alcohol dry film with a yellow eosin-thiethanol-amine mixture as a photoinitiator system. The recording of the gratings was performed by use of a holographic copying process. The samples were exposed and holograms recorded with a collimated beam from a frequency-doubled Nd:YAG (532 nm) Q-switched laser. Our initial results show that it is possible to obtain diffraction gratings with a diffraction efficiency of 60% and a refractive index modulation up to 2.8 x 10(-3). The energetic sensitivities achieved are close to those obtained with the same material and continuous irradiation without a preprocessing of the gratings.     

Fabrication of Ag and Cu nanowires by a solid-state ionic method and investigation of their third-order nonlinear optical properties

Ag and Cu nanowires were separately fabricated in a direct current electric field using a solid-state ionic method, and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Their optical nonlinearities induced by 8 ns laser pulses from a frequency-doubled, Nd:YAG laser at 532 nm, were investigated using the Z-scan technique. Experimental results indicate the metal nanowires have obvious positive refractive nonlinearities and reverse saturated absorption behaviors. The self-focusing behaviors of Ag and Cu nanowires can be attributed to Kerr-induced self-focusing of laser radiation, the nonlinear refractive indexes of Ag and Cu nanowires are n₂ = 1.7 × 10^− 11 esu and n₂ = 2.4 × 10^− 11 esu respectively, and the two-photon process of Ag and the one-photon process of Cu are responsible for the difference between Ag and Cu nanowires suspended in de-ionized water in nanosecond nonlinear absorptions.     

Rh:BaTiO3 thin films with large nonlinear optical properties

We report the fabrication and the nonlinear optical properties of Rh-doped BaTiO3 thin films. The films were deposited on SrTiO3 (100) substrates by pulsed-laser deposition. The deposited Rh:BaTiO3 thin films were single phase and c-axis orientation investigated by x-ray diffraction. The films exhibited large nonlinear optical effects, which were determined using Z-scan technique at a wavelength of 532 nm with a laser duration of 10 ns. The real and imaginary parts of the third-order nonlinear susceptibility chi (3) were 5.71 x 10(-7) esu and 9.59 x 10(-8) esu, respectively. The value of Re chi (3) of Rh:BaTiO3 films is much larger than those of several representative nonlinear optical thin films. The results show that Rh:BaTiO3 thin films have great potential applications for nonlinear optical devices.     

Third order optical susceptibilities of the Cu2O thin film

By performing Z-scan method with a femtosecond laser (800 nm, 50 fs, 1 kHz), we investigated the third-order optical nonlinearities of a cuprous oxide (Cu₂O) film. Single-phase Cu₂O film deposited on a quartz substrate was obtained using the pulsed laser deposition technique. The structure properties, surface morphology and optical transmission spectrum were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and double beam spectrophotometer, respectively. The Z-scan results show that the Cu₂O film exhibits large nonlinear refractive index, n₂ = 3 × 10^− 3 cm²/GW, while the two-photon absorption coefficient, α₂ = 40 cm/GW, is relatively small. It implies that the Cu₂O film is a promising candidate for nonlinear photonic devices.     

Effect of ingredient on optical properties of Ag/Cu metal alloy nanoclusters in silica glass

Formation of Ag-rich and Cu-rich Ag–Cu alloy nanoclusters in silica by Ag/Cu ion sequential implantation has been studied. The formation of alloy nanocluster has been evidenced by optical absorption spectra and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Fast nonlinear refractive index and nonlinear absorption coefficient were measured at 790 nm of wavelength for Ag–Cu alloy nanocluster composites by the Z-scan technique. With different Ag/Cu ratio, linear absorption and nonlinear absorption are different in near infrared (NIR) region. It is suggested that by changing the ingredient percentage of metals in alloy, different optical nonlinearities could be selectively obtained.     

Synthesis,growth and characterization of π conjugated organic nonlinear optical chalcone derivative

A new potentially useful nonlinear optical organic material, 1-(5-chlorothiophen-2-yl)-3-(2,3-dimethoxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-one, has been synthesized and grown as a high-quality single crystal by the slow evaporation technique. The grown crystals were characterized by FT-IR, NMR, thermal analysis, and UV–visible spectroscopy. The material is thermally stabile up to 111 °C. The mechanical property of the grown crystals was studied using Vickers microhardness tester and the load dependence hardness was observed. The third order nonlinear optical properties of the material such as real and imaginary part of χ⁽³⁾, nonlinear absorption coefficient and nonlinear refractive index were determined using nanosecond laser pulses at 532 nm wavelength by employing Z-scan technique. The nonlinear refractive index is found to be of the order of 10⁻¹¹ cm² W⁻¹. The magnitude of third order susceptibility is of the order of 10⁻¹³ esu. The observed increase in the third order nonlinearity in these molecules clearly indicates the electronic origin. The compounds exhibit good optical limiting at 532 nm. The best optical limiting behavior of this molecule is due to the substituted strong electron donor.     

Nonlinear optical properties of an ultrathin film containing porphyrin and poly (phenylenevinylene) units

An ultrathin nanoscopic multilayer film has been fabricated through the electrostatic layer-by-layer self-assembly of water-soluble porphyrin derivative 5,10,15,20-tetrakis-(3,4,5-trihydroxy-phenyl)-porphyrine (DHP) and oppositely charged poly{(2, 5-bis (3-bromotrimethylammoniopropoxy)-phenylene-1, 4-divinylene)-alt-1, 4-(2, 5-bis (2-(2-hydroxyethoxy) ethoxy))phenylenevinylene} (BH-PPV). UV-vis spectra showed a continuous and uniform deposition process of BH-PPV and DHP. The film structure was characterized by small-angle X-ray diffraction measurement. The nonlinear optical property of ultrathin film was characterized by Z-scan technique with laser duration of 8 ns at the wavelength of 532 nm. The BH-PPV/DHP film exhibited nonlinear saturated absorption and strong self-defocusing effect. The nonlinear absorption coefficient and refractive index of the film sample are − 1.9 × 10^− 5 m/W and − 5.57 × 10^− 12 m²/W, respectively.     

Reverse saturable absorption studies in polymerized indole – Effect of polymerization in the phenomenal enhancement of third order optical nonlinearity

We report our results on the identification of large order enhancement in nonlinear optical coefficients of polymerized indole and its comparative study with reference to its monomer counterpart. Indole monomer shows virtually little third order effects whereas its polymerized version exhibits phenomenal increase in its third order nonlinear optical parameters such as nonlinear refractive index and nonlinear absorption. Open aperture Z-scan trace of polyindole done with Q-switched Nd:YAG laser source (532 nm, 7 ns), shows β value as high as 89 cm/GW at a beam energy of 0.83 GW/cm². Closed aperture Z-scan done at identical energies reveals nonlinear refractive index of the order of −3.55 × 10⁻¹⁷ m²/W. Band gap measurement of polyindole was done with UV–Vis absorption spectra and compared with that of Indole. FTIR spectra of the monomer and polymerized versions were recorded and relevant bond formations were confirmed from the characteristic peaks. Photo luminescent spectra were investigated to know the emission features of both molecules. Beam energy (I₀) versus nonlinear absorption coefficient (β) plot indicates reverse saturable type of absorption behaviour in polyindole molecules. Degenerate Four Wave Mixing (DFWM) plot of polyindole reveals quite a cubic dependence between probe and phase conjugate signal and the resulting χ⁽³⁾ is comparable with Z-scan results. Optical limiting efficiency of polyindole is comparable with certain derivatives of porphyrins, phthalocyanines and graphene oxides.     

Optical features of noble-metal-oxide thin films under irradiation of blue laser

The optical reflectance and transmittance of Platinum oxide (PtO(x)) and palladium oxide (PdO(x)) thin films for ultrahigh-density optical storage are investigated using Z-scan technique under irradiation of blue laser (442 nm). The power thresholds of the PtO(x) and PdO(x) decomposition, 3.1 mW and 2.6 mW, are obtained respectively; the PtO(x) (PdO(x)) thin film is reversible and irreversible when input power is less than and more than 3.1 mW (2.6 mW). Deformation analyses by using an atom force microscope (AFM), which is formed in the micro irradiation region of surface on the thin film samples due to decomposition of the PtO(x) or PdO(x) driving the Z-scan, agree well with the Z-scan results. The optical features obtained at 442-nm wavelength are compared with those at 532-nm wavelength, and the threshold difference between the two wavelengths is also analysed in detail based on wavelength-dependent average power density and wavelength-selected absorption of the thin films.