Third-Order Nonlinear Optical, Optical Power Limiting, and All-Optical Switching Studies on Palladium Complexes

Abstract

The authors report the third-order nonlinear optical properties of two palladium complexes in solution and film form using nanosecond Z-scan technique at 532 nm. The nonlinear refractive index n₂ of the investigated complexes is found to be negative. Both complexes exhibit strong reverse saturation absorption and show good optical power limiting of nanosecond pulses. Also the third-order nonlinear optical susceptibility of the complexes was determined using degenerate four-wave mixing technique. The variations of nonlinear response on donor and acceptor type of units present in the complexes are studied. The all-optical switching phenomenon was also demonstrated by using nanosecond pump-probe technique.

Keywords:

• all-optical switching
• optical power limiting
• third-order nonlinear optics
• Z-scan

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dr. K. Chandrasekharan, NITC, Mr. Bhatt Piyush, IITB, Mr. Rudresha B. J., and Ravindra Rajarao, NITK, for their valuable help in carrying out this investigation.