INTENSITY DEPENDENT NONLINEAR MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR PASSIVE OPTICAL LIMITING

Abstract

Passive optical limiting devices based on nonlinear optical (NLO) materials exhibit a throughput radiation level that is related to the magnitude of the nonlinear material parameters. We model both optically ‘thick’ and optically ‘thin’ limiters based on intensity dependent, χ(3) nonlinearities and predict the magnitude of the nonlinearities required to provide protection for the human eye from laser induced damage for a specific optical system. These calculated nonlinearities are given in terms of a required index change, n2, or absorption change, β.