Optical nonlinearities of silicate oxide glass with gold nanoparticles outside the spectral range of surface plasmon resonance

• Published in: Optical materials 2021-12, Vol.122, p.111712, Article 111712
• Main Authors: Dzierżȩga, Krzysztof, Gorczyca, Aleksandra, Zawadzki, Witold, Talik, Wojciech, Pellerin, Nadia, Diallo, Babacar, Blondeau, Jean-Philippe, Pellerin, Stephane
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Glass with Au nanoparticles; Localized surface plasmon resonance; Optical nonlinearities; Physics; Z-scan measurements
• ISSN: 0925-3467; 1873-1252
• DOI: 10.1016/j.optmat.2021.111712

The Z-scan technique, with the use of femtosecond laser pulses at 813 nm and of 1 kHz repetition rate, was applied for measurement of the nonlinear optical properties of silicate glass with embedded gold nanoparticles, produced by the standard melt-quenching method and then annealed at 550 °C. At irradiance levels of 1012 W m−2 it exhibited two-photon absorption with β = 3.8 × 10−15 m W−1 and positive Kerr lensing effect with n2 = 1.85 × 10−20 m2 W−1 which resulted in the nonlinear susceptibility χ(3) = (0.031 + 2.366 i) × 10−14 esu. These values, although remarkably low, indicate that the nonlinear refraction effects significantly dominate the nonlinear absorption and when appropriately increasing the doping with Au nanoparticles, this nanocomposite glass can be considered for the optical switching applications outside the spectral range of the surface plasmon resonance. [Display omitted] • Gold nanoparticles in silicate oxide glass increase its nonlinear refractive index• The fabricated nanocomposite is suitable for optical switching applications• Results of photometric data modelling are consistent with TEM observations• Z-scan measurements with 1 kHz fs laser may reduce thermal effects