Nonlinear optical response of silica doped with copper nanoclusters under 1064 nm laser excitation

Metal nanocluster composite glass was formed by Cu ion implantation into silica using metal vapor vacuum arc (MEVVA) ion source. The microstructural properties of the nanoclusters were analyzed by optical absorption spectra and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Third-order nonlinear optical properties of the nanoclusters were measured at 1064 nm excitations using Z-scan technique. The nonlinear refraction index, nonlinear absorption coefficient, and the real and imaginary parts of the third-order nonlinear susceptibility were deduced. The mechanisms responsible for the nonlinear response were discussed. Third-order nonlinear susceptibility χ(3) of this kind of sample was determined to be (4.2 ± 1.0) × 10−8 esu.

► Cu nanoclusters in silica were formed by using MEVVA ion source.
► During the 1064 nm excitation, the nonlinear optical responses of the nanoclusters were calculated.
► The differences between our result and those in the literatures are compared.
► Metal nanoclusters prepared by MEVVA have potential applications for nonlinear optical device.