An Index-Mismatch Scattering Approach to Optical Limiting

Conference · Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 2001

OSTI ID:15007411

Exarhos, Gregory J; Ferris, Kim F; Windisch, Charles F; Bozlee, Brian J; Risser, Steven M; Van Swam, Simone L

A densely packed bed of alkaline earth fluoride particles percolated by a fluid medium has been investigated as a potential index-matched optical limiter in the spirit of a Christiansen-Shelyubskii filter. Marked optical limiting was observed through this transparent medium under conditions where the focused second-harmonic output of a Q-swtiched Nd: YAG laser was on the order of about 1 J/cm2. An open-aperture Z-scan technique was used to quantify the limiting behavior. In this case, the mechanism of optical limiting is thought to be a nonlinear shift in the fluid index of refraction, resulting in an index mismatch between the disparate phases at high laser fluence.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 15007411
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-33851; 400403809; TRN: US200415%%452
• Resource Relation: Conference: Laser-Induced Damage in Optical Materials: 16-18 Oct. 2000, Boulder, CO. Proceedings of the SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering., 4347:432-443
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
FLUORIDES
PACKED BEDS
REFRACTIVE INDEX
SCATTERING
OPTICAL FILTERS
LASER RADIATION
nonlinear optical limiters
index-matched
solid polymer composites