Nonlinear optical transmission of lead phthalocyanine-doped nematic liquid crystal composites for multiscale nonlinear switching from nanosecond to continuous wave

作者：Sheng, ChuanXiang^*; Norwood, Robert A.; Wang, Jiafu; Thomas, Jayan; Steeves, Diane; Kimball, Brian; Peyghambarian, N.

来源：Applied Optics, 2009, 48(14): 2731-2734.

DOI：10.1364/AO.48.002731

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We have formulated composites of lead (II) tetrakis (4-cumylphenoxy) phthalocyanine (PbTCPc) (loped into nematic liquid crystal (LC), 4'-pentyl-4-biphenylcarbonitrile (5-CB), that has received a 90 degrees twisted alignment and investigated the nonlinear transmission properties using both pulsed (Nd:YLF 524 nm, 5 ns) and cw (532 nm) lasers. In the nanosecond regime, this compound is a reverse saturable absorber performing similarly to low-concentration solutions of PbTCPc. Under cw conditions, we observe optically self-activated polarization switching with low threshold input energy. Our results suggest the potential for an all-optical switch working from the nanosecond time scale to cw.

• 出版日期2009-5-10