Highly Efficient All-optical Beam Modulation Utilizing Thermo-optic Effects
Abstract
Suspensions of plasmonic nanoparticles can diffract optical beam due to the combination of thermal lensing and self-phase modulation. Here, we demonstrate extremely efficient optical beam switching across the visible range in optimized suspensions of 5-nm Au and Ag nanoparticles in non-polar solvents, such as hexane and decane. On-axis modulation of greater than 30 dB is achieved at incident beam intensities as low as 100 W/cm2 with response times under 200 microsecond, at initial solution transparency above 70%. No evidence of laser-induced degradation is observed for the highest intensities used. Numerical modeling of experimental data reveals thermo-optic coefficients of up to -1.3x10-3 /deg K, which, to our knowledge, is the highest observed to date in such nanoparticle suspensions.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 03, 2018
- Accession Number
- AD1091407
Entities
People
- Geoffrey P. Geurtsen
- Michael W. Geis
- Paul D. Robinson
- Shane M. Tysk
- Vladimir Liberman
Organizations
- MIT Lincoln Laboratory