Abstract

The third-order nonlinear optical response of various colloidal suspensions has been investigated. The transmissive properties of these systems are of particular interest in terms of the speed of the switching response, the switching threshold, the recovery time, and the dynamic range over which optical density is generated. We have seen resonant and non-resonant behavior in the nonlinear response of these materials. These suspensions are composed of both inorganic and organic materials homogeneously distributed within a dielectric matrix. In certain studies, these materials have been synthesized as charge-transfer complexes by using an inorganic electron donor combined with an organic electron acceptor. Our results concerning the third-order nonlinear optical properties of these materials; our development of methods for the enhancement of their nonlinear optical response will also be reported.

© 1990 Optical Society of America