Abstract

To develop high nonlinear optical fibers for all-optical switching applications, 7.5 wt% AgNO₃ was incorporated into tellurite glasses with composition of 75TeO₂-20ZnO-5Na₂CO₃ (TZN75) under precisely-controlled experimental conditions to form 7.5Ag-TZN75 glass. Surface Plasmon resonance absorption peak of Ag nanocrystals embedded in 7.5Ag-TZN75 glass was found to center at 552 nm. By degenerated four-wave mixing method, the non-resonant nonlinear refractive index, n₂, of 7.5Ag-TZN75 glass was measured to be 7.54×10⁻¹⁹ m²·W^-1 at 1500 nm, about 3 times of the reference TZN75 glass without any dopant and 27 times of the silicate glasses and fibers, and the response time is about 1 picosecond.

© 2011 Optical Society of America