Growth and characterization of a new organic NLO material: Glycine nitrate

Single crystals of glycine nitrate [(C₂H₆NO₂)⁺ · (NO₃)⁻] were grown using submerged seed solution method. The crystals were characterized by using single crystal X-ray diffraction and density measurements. Spectroscopic, thermal and optical studies were carried out for analyzing the presence of the functional groups, thermal stability, decomposition and transparency of the sample. These studies showed that the crystals are thermally stable upto 145 °C and transparent for the fundamental and second harmonic generation of Nd:YAG (λ = 1064 nm) laser. Second harmonic generation (SHG) conversion efficiency was investigated to explore the NLO characteristics of this material. Microhardness and dielectric studies were also carried out.     

Synthesis and photocatalytic activity of porous polycrystalline NiO nanowires

Porous polycrystalline NiO nanowires were prepared via thermal decomposition of the nickelous precursor synthesized via the hydrothermal reaction of nickel chloride with trisodium citrate dehydrate (C₆H₅Na₃O₇⋅2H₂O) in ethanol–H₂O binary solution. The porous polycrystalline nanowires with the diameters of 350 to 450 nm were constructed from NiO nanocrsystals with the cubic structure and the sizes of 8 to 12 nm. The photocatalytic activity of the as-prepared porous NiO nanowires for the degradation of acid scarlet dye was studied. It was found that their photocatalytic activity was stronger than that of NiO powders.     

Optical limiting behavior of C60 doped ethylenepropylenediene polymethylene polymer

Optical limiting measurements on C₆₀ in toluene-ethylenepropylenediene polymethylene (EPDM) polymer blends and in EPDM polymer films at three different concentrations have been carried out. The measurements were undertaken using 532 nm wavelength, 10 ns pulses from a frequency-doubled Nd-YAG Laser. The results show that the optical limiting efficiency is concentration dependent and that the limiting efficiency for C₆₀ in toluene-EPDM polymer blends is better than in EPDM polymer film samples.     

Growth and characterization of two new NLO materials from the amino acid family: l-Histidine nitrate and l-Cysteine tartrate monohydrate

Single crystals of organic nonlinear optical (NLO) materials l-Histidine nitrate (C₆H₁₀N₃O₂)⁺ · (NO₃)⁻ and l-Cysteine tartrate monohydrate (C₃H₈NO₂S)⁺ · (C₄H₅O₆)⁻ · H₂O were grown by submerged seed solution method. Characterization of the crystals was made using single crystal X-ray diffraction. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic studies, optical behaviour such as UV-visible-NIR absorption spectra and second harmonic generation (SHG) conversion efficiency were investigated to explore the NLO characteristics of the above materials. Microhardness measurements and dielectric studies of the compounds were also carried out.     

Modification of the optical spectra of mixed K2CoxNi1–x(SO4)2?6H2O crystals

We propose a new method for obtaining K₂Co _x Ni_1–x (SO₄)₂⋅6H₂O (x = 0, 0.4, 0.8, 1) crystals, involving the use of the chlorides (CoCl₂⋅6H₂O and NiCl₂⋅6H₂O) in an aqueous solution instead of the widely used sulfates. We have studied the transmission spectra of the grown single crystals in the range λ = 200–900 nm and the IR reflectance spectra in the 2.5–20 μm region. We have observed a change in the position and intensity of the absorption bands as a function of the composition of the crystals. Based on the Tanabe–Sugano diagrams, we determined the crystal field splitting (D_q) and its dependence on the nickel concentration. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 76, No. 1, pp. 126–130, January–February, 2009.     

Nanosecond laser-induced surface damage of optical multimode fibers and their preforms

High-power optical multimode fibers are essential components for materials processing and surgery and can limit the performance of expensive systems due to breakdown at the end faces. The aim of this paper is the determination of laser-induced damage thresholds (LIDT) of fibers (FiberTech) and preforms (Heraeus Suprasil F300). Preforms served as models. They were heated up to maximum temperatures of 1100, 1300 and 1500°C and cooled down to room temperature at rates of 10 K min⁻¹ (oven) and ∼10⁵ K min⁻¹ (quenched in air) to freeze in various structural states simulating different conditions similar to a drawing process during the production of fibers. Single- and multi-pulse LIDT measurements were done in accordance with the relevant ISO standards. Nd:YAG laser pulses with durations of 15 ns (1064 nm wavelength) and 8.5 ns (532 nm) at a repetition rate of 10 Hz were used. For the preforms, LIDT values (1-on-1) ranged from 220 to 350 J/cm² (1064 nm) and from 80 to 110 J/cm² (532 nm), respectively. A multi-pulse impact changed the thresholds to lower values. The LIDT (1064 nm wavelength) of the preforms can be regarded as a lower limit for those of the fibers.     

Growth and characterization of pure and doped organic nonlinear optical single crystal: l-Alanine alaninium nitrate (LAAN)

The pure l-alanine alaninium nitrate (LAAN) single crystals and LAAN crystals doped with lanthanum oxide (La₂O₃), sodium chloride (NaCl), urea (CH₄N₂O), glycine (C₂H₅NO₂) and thiourea (CH₄N₂S) were grown by slow evaporation method. The X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDAX) analysis, UV–vis spectral analysis, dielectric studies and powder SHG measurement are studied systematically. The slight changes in the lattice parameters were observed for the doped crystals compared to pure LAAN crystal. The incorporation of doping into the crystal lattice was confirmed by energy dispersive X-ray analysis. There is no change in the transmission window due to doping and the percentage of transmission in doped samples was found to increase as compared to that of pure LAAN crystal. The dielectric constant of pure crystal was found to be less than that of doped crystals. The AC conductivity was found to increase after doping and with the increase in temperature. A green radiation of 532 nm was observed from the pure and doped LAAN crystals confirming the second harmonic generation (SHG) of the crystals.     

Application of benzophenones to elucidate the photochemical reaction pathways of hydrogen peroxide with dimethylsulfoxide

Benzophenone ((C₆H₅)₂CO) and decafluorobenzophenone ((C₆F₅)₂CO) were applied to elucidate the photochemical reaction pathway of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) with dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). When a solution of benzophenone in DMSO was excited with the 355 nm laser light, three transient species were observed in the time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance spectra: benzophenone ketyl (C₆H₅)₂COH^⋅, methyl^⋅CH₃, and methylsulfinic methyl^⋅CH₂SOCH₃ radicals. However, when decafluoro-benzophenone was used with DMSO, only ketyl and methylsulfinic methyl radicals were observed under the same experimental conditions. When the reaction of benzophenone and DMSO was carried out in the presence of H₂O₂, different time profiles of^⋅CH₃ radicals were observed. In the reaction of decafluorobenzophenone-DMSO-H₂O₂, the time profiles of the radicals were not affected by the presence of H₂O₂. Thus, these results verify that^⋅CH₃ radicals are regenerated in a cyclic pathway, in which^⋅CH₃ radicals attack H₂O₂. The regeneration pathway allows us to observe f-pair polarization throughout the lifetime of^⋅CH₃ radicals, which last several microseconds, an order of magnitude longer than theT ₁ relaxation time of^⋅CH₃ radicals.     

Microwave excited CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> laser with multiple units using orthogonal electric fields

The third order nonlinear optical properties of 4^′-methoxy chalcone and its derivatives have been investigated using a single-beam Z-scan technique with nanosecond laser pulses at 532 nm. The 4^′-methoxy chalcone and its derivatives are donor–acceptor–acceptor (D–A–A) and donor–acceptor–donor (D–A–D) type intramolecular charge transfer molecules. The nonlinear response in these molecules was found to increase with increase in (a) the electron acceptor strength in D–A–A type and (b) the donor strength of the substituted group in D–A–D type molecules. The χ⁽³⁾ value in these molecules is found to be 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 was observed with the molecule substituted by a strong electron donor. PACS 42.65.An; 42.70.Nq     

Optical limiting action of C60 doped poly(dimethylacetylendicarboxylate)

The optical limiting action of poly(dimethylacetylendicarboxylate) polymer doped with fullerene C₆₀ has been investigated under irradiation with 10 ns laser pulses at 532 nm. The optical limiting measurements were performed at four different dopant concentrations. The threshold limiting fluence at 0.3 J/cm² was observed at high doping concentrations, with transmission of about 55%. An explanation based on the combination of two-photon absorption and reverse saturable absorption was proposed for its nonlinear optical absorption behavior.     

$90^{\circ}$ phase-matched parametric frequency conversion in AgGa1-xInxS2

AgGa_1-xIn_xS₂ with x=0.14±0.01 was found to be 90° phase-matchable for type-I difference-frequency generation (DFG) by mixing the dual-wavelength pulses emitted from an electronically tuned Ti:sapphire laser. Infrared radiation continuously tunable over the range of 4.80–6.98 μm was generated by independently varying the two wavelengths in the 705–932 nm spectral range, and 4.04 μm radiation by mixing a Nd:YAG laser with the Ti:sapphire laser. In addition, this material was found to be noncritically phase-matchable for the second harmonic generation (SHG) of CO₂ laser radiation at 10.591 μm at 203 °C. Sellmeier equations that reproduce well these experimental data are presented. PACS  42.65.-k; 42.65.ky     

Optical limiting with higher fullerenes

Optical limiting has been investigated for higher fullerenes and compared with C₆₀. The transmission through an aperture placed after solutions of C₇₆, C₇₈, and C₈₄ in tetrahydronaphthalene was measured using Q-switched laser pulses with a wavelength of 532 nm and a pulse width of 8 ns FWHM. Unlike C₆₀, the transmission for these higher fullerene solutions decreased linearly with increasing optical pulse energy. We attribute the linearized optical limiting response to self-defocusing of the optical beam and the absence of excited-state absorption. The ground state absorption spectra for the higher fullerenes suggest their use for optical limiting in the near infrared, and the C₈₄-tetrahydronaphthalene solution was found to be an optical limiter at 1.064 m.     

Large optical nonlinearity in CaCu<Subscript>3</Subscript>Ti<Subscript>4</Subscript>O<Subscript>12</Subscript> thin films

CaCu₃Ti₄O₁₂ (CCTO) thin films were successfully prepared on LaAlO₃ substrates by pulsed laser deposition technique. We measured the nonlinear optical susceptibility of the thin films using Z-scan method at a wavelength of 532 nm with pulse durations of 25 ps and 7 ns. The large values of the third-order nonlinear optical susceptibility, χ ⁽³⁾, of the CCTO film were obtained to be 2.79×10⁻⁸ esu and 3.30×10⁻⁶ esu in picosecond and nanosecond time regimes, respectively, which are among the best results of some representative nonlinear optical materials. The origin of optical nonlinearity of CCTO films was discussed. The results indicate that the CCTO films on LaAlO₃ substrates are promising candidate materials for applications in nonlinear optical devices.     

基于富勒烯C60结构体系的金纳米粒子合成物光学非线性研究

使用532nm,8ns激光脉冲研究了两种新型的基于富勒烯C₆₀结构体系的金纳米粒子合成物的光学非线性.Z-scan实验结果和理论分析的比较表明,材料的非线性吸收强烈地依赖于材料中的配合体,而非线性折射主要来自金纳米粒子的贡献.而且与熟知的C₆₀甲苯溶液光限幅特性作了比较,分析了光限幅机理. 关键词： 60结构体系')" href="#">基于富勒烯C₆₀结构体系 金纳米粒子 等离子体 光限幅     

Third-order nonlinear optical properties in [(C4H9)4N]2[Cu(C3S5)2]-doped PMMA thin film using Z-scan technique in picosecond pulse

An organometallic complex, [(C₄H₉)₄N]₂[Cu(C₃S₅)₂], abbreviated as BuCu, was synthesized. Then the BuCu-doped polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) thin film with a doping concentration 1% by weight (1 wt.%) was fabricated using a spin-coating method and its third-order nonlinear optical properties were characterized using the Z-scan technique with 20 ps pulse duration at 532 and 1064 nm, respectively. The Z-scan curves have revealed that the material exhibits a self-defocusing effect at both wavelengths. Saturable absorption at 532 nm and two-photon absorption at 1064 nm were also found, respectively. Additionally, the calculated results of the material in film were compared with that of acetone solution, which indicated that the values in film were larger than that of acetone solution for about two orders in magnitude. The origins were analyzed of the difference between the two wavelengths. Our results suggest that considerable nonlinear optical properties were confirmed in BuCu-doped PMMA film. The material can easily be doped into PMMA film and forms a waveguide mode. So this material should be considered to be manufactured into devices and applied in all-optical switching, laser locking-mode, optical limiting fields etc.     

Generation of CdS clusters using laser ablation: the role of wavelength and fluence

The formation of cationic clusters in the laser ablation of CdS targets has been investigated as a function of wavelength and fluence by mass spectrometric analysis of the plume. Ablation was carried out at the laser wavelengths of 1064, 532, 355, and 266 nm in order to scan the interaction regimes below and above the energy band gap of the material. In all cases, the mass spectra showed stoichiometric Cd _n S _n ⁺ and nonstoichiometric Cd _n S _n−1⁺, Cd _n S _n+1⁺, and Cd _n S _n+2⁺ clusters up to 4900 amu. Cluster size distributions were well represented by a log-normal function, although larger relative abundance for clusters with n=13, 16, 19, 34 was observed (magic numbers). The laser threshold fluence for cluster observation was strongly dependent on wavelength, ranging from around 16 mJ/cm² at 266 nm to more than 300 mJ/cm² at 532 and 1064 nm. According to the behavior of the detected species as a function of fluence, two distinct families were identified: the “light” family containing S₂⁺ and Cd⁺ and the “heavy” clusterized family grouping Cd₂⁺ and Cd _n S _m ⁺. In terms of fluence, it has been determined that the best ratio for clusterization is achieved close to the threshold of appearance of clusters at all wavelengths. At 1064, 532, and 355 nm, the production of “heavy” cations as a function of fluence showed a maximum, indicating the participation of competitive effects, whereas saturation is observed at 266 nm. In terms of relative production, the contribution of the “heavy” family to the total cation signal was significantly lower for 266 nm than for the longer wavelengths. Irradiation at 355 nm in the fluence region of 200 mJ/cm² has been identified as the optimum for the generation of large clusters in CdS.     

Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> plasma production during pulsed laser deposition

A Nd:YAG laser operating in second harmonic (532 nm), 3 ns pulse duration, 150 mJ pulse energy, and 10 Hz repetition rate, is employed to irradiate Al₂O₃ target placed in high vacuum. The produced plasma is investigated by an ion collector used in time-of-flight configuration and by a mass quadrupole spectrometer, in order to determine the equivalent plasma temperature and the atomic and molecular composition. Pulsed laser deposition technique has been used to produce thin films on different substrates placed close to the target. Different surface analyses, such as energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and surface profilometry are employed to characterize the produced films. Measurements of ablation yield, plasma equivalent temperature, acceleration voltage and characterization of grown thin films are presented and discussed.     

Nonlinear refraction and absorption in hetero- thiometallic planar clusters

The nonlinear absorption and refraction of the clusters [MoS₄Cu₄Br₂(py)₆] and [Et₄N]₂[MoS₄Cu₄(SCN)₄(2-pic)₄] have been investigated using the z-scan technique with a ns laser at 532 nm wavelength. They have the same planar ‘open’ structures and the same skeleton metal atoms; the only difference is that the former has halogen ligands while the latter possesses pseudo-halogen groups – SCN – as ligands. Alteration of nonlinear refractive index and enhancement of nonlinear absorption were found in these two clusters. A steady state model of excited state nonlinear refraction was proposed to explain this phenomenon. Received: 12 June 2001 / Revised version: 4 September 2001 / Published online: 29 November 2001     

Laser-assisted generation of self-assembled microstructures on stainless steel

Utilising a Nd:YVO₄ laser (wavelength of 532 nm, pulse duration of 8 ns, repetition rate of 30 kHz) and a Nd:YAG laser (wavelength of 1064 nm, pulse duration of 7 ns, repetition rate of 25 kHz), it was found that during the pulsed laser ablation of metal targets, such as stainless steel, periodic nodular microstructures (microcones) with average periods ranging from ∼30 to ∼50 μm were formed. This period depends on the number of accumulated laser pulses and is independent of the laser wavelength. It was found that the formation of microcones could occur after as little as 1500 pulses/spot (a lower number than previously reported) are fired onto a target surface location at laser fluence of ∼12 J/cm², intensity of ∼1.5 GW/cm². The initial feedback mechanism required for the formation of structures is attributed to the hydrodynamic instabilities of the melt. In addition to this, it has been shown that the structures grow along the optical axis of the incoming laser radiation. We demonstrate that highly regular structures can be produced at various angles, something not satisfactorily presented on metallic surfaces previously. The affecting factors such as incident angle of the laser beam and the structures that can be formed when varying the manner in which the laser beam is scanned over the target surface have also been investigated.     

Time-resolved time-dependent photo-acoustic spectroscopy of NO2 in a high frequency multi-resonant cavity

The paper reports the pulsed laser-based time-resolved time-dependent Photo-acoustic (PA) spectroscopy of NO₂ gas in a specially designed multi mode-Resonant PA Cell which is made of Stainless Steel and has a “Q” value of the order of 79. Furthermore the designed cell allows us to excite some of the longitudinal, radial and azimuthal resonance modes of the photo-acoustic signals simultaneously in a very efficient manner. The presence of many newly excited modes occur at 7050 Hz, 10350 Hz and 14650 Hz frequencies is observed for the first time in NO₂ at room temperature. These results are obtained by employing second harmonics i.e. λ=532 nm pulses from Q-switched Nd:YAG laser having 7 ns pulse duration. Some of the new acoustic spectrum lines at higher frequencies are recorded between 0.5–10 ms data acquisition time, which also extends the frequency monitoring range of our system. The study also highlights some of the important aspects such as the decaying behavior of some of these resonant acoustic spectrum lines occur on the expense of others as well as the saturation behavior of some other modes in the NO₂ gas sample. The estimated low level detection limit of NO₂ buffered in air is of the order of 17.9 ppbV.