Nonlinear optical properties of noncrystalline semiconductors

Abstract

The paper summarizes the peculiarities of the nonlinear interaction of short laser pulses with the noncrystalline semiconductors (chalcogenide glasses, a-Si:H), showing that noncrystalline semiconductors (NS) are an interesting material for high speed optoelectronics. The physical mechanisms, which can contribute to the nonlinear light absorption in NS under pulsed excitation, are reviewed.