Ultrafast Z-scan measurements of nonlinear optical constants of window materials at 772, 1030, and 1550 nm.

Femtosecond Z-scan measurements have been performed on six window materials at 772, 1030, and 1550 nm. Measurements of the nonlinear refractive index are presented for reference materials, fused silica and BK7 and four near-infrared window materials, multispectral ZnS (CLEARTRAN), aluminum oxynitride (AlON), spinel (MgAl2O4) ceramic, and barium gallogermanate (BGG) glass.

Optical properties of solid-core photonic crystal fibers filled with nonlinear absorbers.

A theoretical and experimental investigation of the transmission of solid-core photonic crystal fibers (PCFs) filled with nonlinear absorbers shows a sharp change in the threshold for optical limiting and in leakage loss as the refractive index of the material in the holes approaches that of the glass matrix. Theoretical calculations of the mode profiles and leakage loss of the PCF are in agreement with experimental results and indicate that the change in limiting response is due to the interaction of the evanescent field of the guided mode with the nonlinear absorbers in the holes.

Optical limiting properties of nonlinear multimode waveguide arrays.

An experimental investigation of the transmission of multimode capillary waveguide arrays containing a liquid nonlinear absorber shows an enhanced nonlinear response relative to that found in a single waveguide and to the same length of bulk material. Comparison of the nonlinear response of arrays with different pitch to diameter (d/Lambda) ratios confirm that both the intensity distribution within an individual waveguide and coupling between the elements of the array influence the overall nonlinear response.

Nonlinear transmission of a tetrabrominated naphthalocyaninato indium chloride.

The axially substituted complex chloro indium(III) 2-tetrabromo-3-tetra-(3,5-di-tert-butylphenyloxy)naphthalocyanine [Br4(tBu2PhO)4NcInCl (1); MW = 1996] has been synthesized for the first time, and its nonlinear transmission properties have been evaluated with the Z-scan technique in both open and closed aperture configurations at 532 nm for nanosecond pulsed radiation. The tetrabrominated complex 1 displayed a larger positive nonlinear absorption coefficient when compared to an analogous nonbrominated naphthalocyanine [(tBu2PhO)8NcInCl (2); MW = 2498]. The effect of the four Br atoms on the nonlinear optical behavior of 1 is evaluated, discussed, and compared with the nonlinear optical behavior of 2. It is shown that the bromination of the naphthalocyanine ring considerably improves the limiting properties of such a system when high-intensity radiations are produced by nanosecond laser pulses at 532 nm.

Optical limiting properties of nonlinear multimode waveguides.

An experimental investigation of the transmission of multimode capillary waveguides with a nonlinear absorber in the core shows an enhanced nonlinear absorption relative to the same length of bulk material. The results are consistent with partial mode filling within the cores of the waveguides. This study confirms the promising optical limiting capabilities of multimode nonlinear waveguides and implies that the mode structure should be considered in the design and evaluation of capillary array optical limiters.