Full Text Available
Note: Clicking the button above will open the full text document at the original institutional repository in a new window.
Determining non-linear optical properties using the Z-scan technique
Thesis (MSc (Physics))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005.
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
2008
|
| Subjects: | |
| Tags: |
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1867613791172165632 |
|---|---|
| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Neethling, Pieter H. |
| author2 | Rohwer, Erich G. |
| author_browse | Neethling, Pieter H. Rohwer, Erich G. |
| author_facet | Rohwer, Erich G. Neethling, Pieter H. |
| author_sort | Neethling, Pieter H. |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | University of Stellenbosch |
| description | Thesis (MSc (Physics))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/2094 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:41:45.229Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2008 |
| publishDateRange | 2008 |
| publishDateSort | 2008 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/2094 Determining non-linear optical properties using the Z-scan technique Neethling, Pieter H. Rohwer, Erich G. University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Science. Dept. of Physics. Nonlinear optics Optical scanners Scanning systems Dissertations -- Physics Theses -- Physics Thesis (MSc (Physics))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. The extremely high light intensities produced by lasers and the increasing use of lasers highlights the need for measures to prevent damage to materials due to exposure to high intensity laser light. In particular it necessitates the development of systems to protect optical sensors, including the human eye. In this work optical limiters were investigated as a system for protecting sensors. An optical limiter transmits ambient light, but absorbs high intensity light. This makes it ideal for protecting sensors from laser radiation, since it allows the sensor to operate unhindered at design intensities while protecting it from harmful high intensity radiation. There are various mechanisms used for optical limiting, and in this work the nonlinear absorption and the nonlinear index of refraction changes of materials were investigated. A facility was established to measure the nonlinear optical properties of a variety of materials, in order to classify them as possible optical limiters. This entailed creating a so called Zscan setup, which enabled us to measure the nonlinear absorption coefficient and the nonlinear index of refraction of a material. The theory and the design of the setup are discussed and experimental results obtained using this setup are presented. A wide variety of material types were investigated to show the versatility of the experimental setup. These included C60, which was analyzed in solution; ZnO which is a crystal; CdS quantum dots in solution; and poly(dioctyl-fluorene), which is a large polymer molecule, in solution. The materials investigated in this work were chosen based on their known strong nonlinear optical properties. Emphasis was placed on measuring the nonlinear absorption coefficients since it was the dominant optical limiting effect of the materials under investigation. The results obtained displayed the same trends as published results and it shows that the established facility was capable of measuring the nonlinear properties of these samples. The experimental limitations of the setup were determined, and critical experimental parameters were identified for measurements of this nature. Improvements to the experimental facility are suggested to improve the accuracy of future measurements. 2008-07-22T12:50:46Z 2010-06-01T08:40:22Z 2008-07-22T12:50:46Z 2010-06-01T08:40:22Z 2005-03 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/2094 en University of Stellenbosch application/pdf Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| spellingShingle | Nonlinear optics Optical scanners Scanning systems Dissertations -- Physics Theses -- Physics Neethling, Pieter H. Determining non-linear optical properties using the Z-scan technique |
| title | Determining non-linear optical properties using the Z-scan technique |
| title_full | Determining non-linear optical properties using the Z-scan technique |
| title_fullStr | Determining non-linear optical properties using the Z-scan technique |
| title_full_unstemmed | Determining non-linear optical properties using the Z-scan technique |
| title_short | Determining non-linear optical properties using the Z-scan technique |
| title_sort | determining non linear optical properties using the z scan technique |
| topic | Nonlinear optics Optical scanners Scanning systems Dissertations -- Physics Theses -- Physics |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/2094 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT neethlingpieterh determiningnonlinearopticalpropertiesusingthezscantechnique |