Optical bistability in gold nano-colloid due to thermal lensing effect

In this study, experimental results are concerning “the optical bistability due to thermal lensing effect”, in colloidal solution of gold nanoparticles (Au Nps) which has been studied under CW laser illuminations. Two different CW laser beams (He-Ne and Nd-Yag) were used to interact with a vertical Fabry-Perot interferometer, containing colloid of the Au Nps. Hysteretic loops have been observed with regard to optical bistability and the results were fitted with theoretical curves. The radiated power to the resonator was elevated up to 50 mW for both the laser beams with the same spot size. Also, new method was defined to precise evaluation of the theoretical hysteretic loop which is describing the relation between nonlinear refractive index and the beam intensity inside the resonator. This dependency is due to thermal lensing effect and numerical simulations of this effect were also performed, in order to better understanding of it.