Abstract

We describe a silicon nonlinear optical energy regulator for 1 μm radiation. The device has a linear response and high transmission for low input energies but effectively clamps the output at a low value for high input energies. We attribute this optical Zener action to self-defocusing and nonlinear absorption. The initiation time for the switching action is subpicosecond, while the recovery time, once the excitation is removed, is fundamentally limited by the carrier lifetime in the material. This device is attractive for pulsed laser applications where one wishes to restrict the pulse energies incident upon sensitive optical components.

© 1984 Optical Society of America