Collective optical Kerr effect exhibited by an integrated configuration of silicon quantum dots and gold nanoparticles embedded in ion-implanted silica

Abstract

The study of the third-order optical nonlinear response exhibited by a composite containing gold nanoparticles and silicon quantum dots nucleated by ion implantation in a high-purity silica matrix is presented. The nanocomposites were explored as an integrated configuration containing two different ion-implanted distributions. The time-resolved optical Kerr gate and z-scan techniques were conducted using 80 fs pulses at a 825 nm wavelength; while the nanosecond response was investigated by a vectorial two-wave mixing method at 532 nm with 1 ns pulses. An ultrafast purely electronic nonlinearity was associated to the optical Kerr effect for the femtosecond experiments, while a thermal effect was identified as the main mechanism responsible for the nonlinear optical refraction induced by nanosecond pulses. Comparative experimental tests for examining the contribution of the Au and Si distributions to the total third-order optical response were carried out. We consider that the additional defects generated by consecutive ion irradiations in the preparation of ion-implanted samples do not notably modify the off-resonance electronic optical nonlinearities; but they do result in an important change for near-resonant nanosecond third-order optical phenomena exhibited by the closely spaced nanoparticle distributions.

Photothermally Activated Two-Photon Absorption in Ion-Implanted Silicon Quantum Dots in Silica Plates

“…Optical Kerr gate (OKG) studies were undertaken in order to see the femtosecond time-resolved behavior of the SiQDs samples [18]. The pulses were provided by a Ti:sapphire laser system emitting a 825 nm wavelength, 80 fs pulses, and 3 nJ maximum pulse energy at 94 MHz.…”

Sol-gel synthesis and third-order optical nonlinearity of Au nanoparticles doped monolithic glass

“…The mechanisms responsible for the nonlinear response were discussed, and the temporal analysis results showed the prevailing influence of the electronic Kerr effect over the possible thermo-optical contribution. C. Torres-Torres et al [23] studied the third-order optical nonlinear response of silica composite containing Au NPs and Si-QDs nucleated by ion implantation. The nanocomposites were explored as an integrated configuration containing two different ion-implanted distributions.…”

Plasmonic Nanoparticles in Dielectrics Synthesized by Ion Beams: Optical Properties and Photonic Applications

“…In theory, it is closely associated with the NP species, shapes, sizes, dielectric environment, etc. [ 11–19 ] The linear and nonlinear optical responses can be efficiently modulated by the unique LSPR effect of NPs in nanocomposite system. [ 20–26 ] Great success has been achieved by chemical method with controllable NP morphology for the development of various nanocomposite systems with designable functions.…”