Abstract
In materials with an excited-state absorption cross section larger than the ground-state absorption cross section, increasing the incident light intensity (thus populating the excited state) increases the absorption. We show that such a reverse saturable absorber can function as a power limiter and pulse smoother for long pulses and as an energy limiter and pulse shortener for short pulses. The necessary properties for such a material are described. Reverse saturable absorption is demonstrated at 488 nm in alexandrite. A simple model describing these effects is presented.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 865-868 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Journal of Applied Physics |
Volume | 56 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1 Dec 1984 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physics and Astronomy (all)