Abstract
The optical limiting behavior of multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) powder in chloroform solution under infrared laser irradiations is reported for, to our knowledge, the first time. Here we demonstrate the pure thermal origin of the optical limiting effect in the time scale studied. The Z-scan technique appears to be an excellent tool for xperimental evaluation of the nonlinear refractive index. An experimental model for the optical limiting behavior of MWCNT suspensions in chloroform is presented. The occurrence of a laser-induced thermal lens through the absorption of energy by the MWCNTs and subsequent heat transfer to the solvent, followed by solvent vapur bubble growth, is the main factor governing the observed drop in transmittance. Pump-probe experiments have been performed to obtain some quantitative estimation of both the rise and decay times of the thermal lensing phenomenon. It was found that the early probe signal decay, , was of the same order of magnitude as the rise time of the thermal lens, . When the nonlinear scattering was considered, a total decay time of was obtained. A recovery time for the thermal lens of several tens of milliseconds has been experimentally determined, which is in good accordance with the theoretical value.
© 2010 Optical Society of America
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