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Studies on third-order nonlinear optical properties and reverse saturable absorption in polythiophene/poly (methylmethacrylate) composites

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Abstract

We report here the studies on third-order nonlinear optical properties of two novel polythiophene composite films investigated using the Z-scan technique. The measurements were carried out using a Q-switched, frequency doubled Nd:YAG laser producing 7 nanosecond laser pulses at 532 nm. Z-scan results reveal that the composite films exhibit self-defocusing nonlinearity. The real and imaginary parts of the third-order nonlinear optical susceptibility were of the order 10−12 esu. The effective excited-state absorption cross section was found to be larger than the ground state absorption cross section, indicating that the operating nonlinear mechanism is reverse saturable absorption (RSA). The polythiophene composite films also exhibit good optical power limiting of the nanosecond laser pulses. The nonlinear optical parameters are found to increase on increasing the strength of the electron-donor group, indicating the dependence of χ (3) on the electron-donor/acceptor units of polythiophenes.

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Author notes

  1. P. Poornesh

    Present address: Department of Physics, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal University, Manipal, Udupi, Karnataka, 576104, India

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal, Mangalore, Karnataka, 575025, India

    P. Poornesh, G. Umesh & K. B. Manjunatha

  2. Department of Chemistry, National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal, Mangalore, Karnataka, 575025, India

    P. K. Hegde, M. G. Manjunatha & A. V. Adhikari

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  1. P. Poornesh
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  2. G. Umesh
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  4. M. G. Manjunatha
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Poornesh, P., Umesh, G., Hegde, P.K. et al. Studies on third-order nonlinear optical properties and reverse saturable absorption in polythiophene/poly (methylmethacrylate) composites. Appl. Phys. B 97, 117–124 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-009-3635-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-009-3635-4

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