Nonlinear optical absorption studies of an organo-metallic complex by Z-scan technique

Abstract

An organo-metallic complex, [(CH 3) 4N][Ni(dmit) 2] (dmit 2− = (1,3-dithiole-2-thione-4,5-dithiolate), abbreviated as MeNi, is synthesized. The nonlinear optical absorption properties of MeNi dissolved in acetone have been studied using the open-aperture Z-scan technique with 40 ps pulse width at 1064 nm and 1 ns, 15 ns pulse width at 1053 nm, respectively. Strong saturable absorption has been found when the sample solution is irradiated by 40 ps and 1 ns laser pulses. While irradiated with 15 ns laser pulse, a stronger reverse saturable absorption has been found. The nonlinear optical absorption coefficients are −1.03 × 10 −11 m/W, −1.85 × 10 −11 m/W and 3.84 × 10 −10 m/W, respectively. The mechanism responsible for the difference between the results is analyzed. All the results suggest that this material may be a promising candidate for the application to laser pulse compression in the near-infrared waveband.