Linear and ultrafast nonlinear optical response of Ag:Bi2O3 composite films

Abstract

Silver/bismuth oxide composite thin films with Ag concentration varying from 13.2% to 59.3% were prepared by cosputtering in a multitarget magnetron sputtering system. The absorption spectra of these thin films were measured, and the absorption peaks due to surface plasmon resonance of Ag particles showed a redshift behavior with increasing Ag concentration. By using the femtosecond time-resolved optical Kerr effect technique under 800 nm wavelength, the nonlinear optical properties of these films were investigated. The Kerr signals showed an ultrafast rise, suggesting that the main physical mechanism involved in the optical nonlinearity of Ag:Bi2O3 thin films on the femtosecond scale was the pure electronic contributions. The maximum value of the third-order nonlinear optical susceptibility of Ag:Bi2O3 thin films was 4.1×10−10 esu, and occurred at a Ag concentration of about 35.7%.

Giant optical nonlinearity of silver-doped silicon thin film at low power input: laser-triggered cluster resonance

“…Obviously there is an absorption peak at about 400 nm wavelength and the excitation at 415 nm can be identified as the surface-plasmon resonance absorption (SPR) peak, stemming from resonance absorption of the surface plasmon between metal particles and matrix. Similar characteristics were previously observed for other metal-doped dielectric materials [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. In addition, the red curve in Fig.…”

“…With different doping elements and background matrix, the composites can be configured to pos-sess well pronounced nonlinear effects with fast time responses [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. Such properties are widely demanded particularly in the recently and rapidly developed photonic and optical communication devices, such as optical correlators, phase conjugators, high density optical storages, and compact all-optical switches.…”

“…In the past times, third-order optical nonlinear properties, such as the Kerr effect and two-photon absorption, have been extensively studied with a variety of metal-doped composites [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. With different doping elements and background matrix, the composites can be configured to pos-sess well pronounced nonlinear effects with fast time responses [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8].…”

“…However, a well-known restriction for the composites to find applications in compact optical devices is the requirement for high power inputs. Except for some bismuth thin films in molten states [9], ultra high intensity laser pulses are usually needed to trigger significant nonlinear yields [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. Therefore, a plausible improvement would be to reduce the power level of the input.…”

“…Such properties are widely demanded particularly in the recently and rapidly developed photonic and optical communication devices, such as optical correlators, phase conjugators, high density optical storages, and compact all-optical switches. The composites reported to bear high nonlinear responses include among others metallic nanoparticle-doped glasses or other dielectrics, such as TiO 2 capped Au nanoparticle films, Ag doped BaO and Bi 2 O 3 thin films [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8].…”