Optical Limiting Windows for Eye and Sensor Protection from Laser Radiation.
Abstract
The vulnerability of human eyes and sensing devices to high power laser radiation presents a critical need in both the military and private sectors for protection devices. These devices must permit normal eye and sensor functions while blocking all damaging wavelengths when subjected to high power radiation. Optical power limiting provides just such a mechanism for this type of passive protection. Optical limiting has been investigated in a number of materials with distinct nonlinear mechanisms 1. Of these materials, the most widely investigated are: (1) Organic and organometallic molecules which rely on reverse saturable absorption (RSA). The more promising RSA materials include heavy-atom-substituted phthalocyanines 2,3, porphyrins 4, and fullerenes 5. The phthalocyanines have demonstrated superiority at the most commonly investigated wavelength of 532 nm, and show optical power limiting for a range of wavelengths in the visible spectral region. Very recent studies have shown enhanced properties of fullerenes in the red and near-IR 6,7,8,9. (2) Colloidal carbon suspensions, which rely on nonlinear scattering. While they yield broadband limiting in the near-IR, carbon suspension materials are widely regarded as unsatisfactory, especially in view of the requirement that they be used in a liquid state.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 24, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA326991
Entities
People
- Duncan Mcbranch
- Jean-luc Nogues
- William Moreshead