Lead phthalocyanine reverse saturable absorption optical limiters

Abstract

Systematic studies of the nonlinear optical properties of organic materials have led to the development of promising new materials for optical limiting. Several heavy metal substituted phthalocyanines are effective materials for optical limiters in the visible and near IR. Nonlinear absorption is the principal mechanism near the limiting threshold. In fast optical systems, refractive contributions also contribute at higher energies. These refractive contributions are predominantly thermal. The spectral window over which the limiter operates can be engineered by altering both the main ring and peripheral substitution of the molecules.