Optical limiting behavior of bismuth oxide-based glass in the visible range

The authors report experimental results on the optical limiting behavior of a bismuth oxide-based glass by exciting the samples with nanosecond laser pulses at 532 and 598 nm. The results show that two-photon and free-carrier absorption processes contribute for the nonlinear absorption. Values for ?, the two-photon absorption coefficient, and e, the absorption cross section due to free carriers, were determined. The values of ? and e are dependent on the amount of bismuth oxide in the glass composition. © 2006 American Institute of Physics.