Amit Nag

Two-photon cross-section measurements using an optical chopper: z-scan and two-photon fluorescence schemes

An effective z-scan setup with a minimum thermal effect is shown for intensity-dependent measure of two-photon absorption (TPA) with high-repetition rate lasers. Use of an additional intensity modulation with an optical chopper provides enough blanking time for a high-repetition rate laser to yield equally accurate results in TPA measurements compared to a low repetition laser. Extension of this method of thermal effect management with an optical chopper to emission studies also results in good correspondence for two-photon cross-section measurements from either z-scan or two-photon fluorescence techniques. The method also significantly enhances two-photon fluorescence, which could be promising for multiphoton microscopy.

Polarization induced control of single and two-photon fluorescence

Modulation of two-photon absorption, two-photon fluorescence (TPF), as well as single-photon fluorescence (SPF), is shown through incident laser polarization for different fluorescent dyes. TPF intensity increases as the polarization changes from circular to linear irrespective of the dye, though the intensity and wavelength dependent studies of two-photon polarization ratio for any particular dye (e.g., Rhodamine 6G) reveal the nature of their excited state. SPF intensity of IR125 and IR144 dyes increases as the polarization changes from linear to circular. Thus, polarization studies indicate that in case of TPF, there is a preference toward the linear component while in case of SPF, the preference is toward the circular component of the incident laser beam.

Exploring control parameters of two photon processes in solutions

AbstractTwo-photon microscopy depends extensively on the two-photon absorption cross sections of biologically relevant chromophores. High repetition rate (HRR) lasers are essential in multiphoton microscopy for generating satisfactory signal to noise at low average powers. However, HRR lasers generate thermal distortions in samples even with the slightest single photon absorption. We use an optical chopper with HRR lasers to intermittently ‘blank’ irradiation and effectively minimize thermal effects to result in a femtosecond z-scan setup that precisely measures the two-photon absorption (TPA) cross-sections of chromophores. Though several experimental factors impact such TPA measurements, a systematic effort to modulate and influence TPA characteristics is yet to evolve. Here, we present the effect of several control parameters on the TPA process that are independent of chromophore characteristics for femtosecond laser pulse based measurements; and demonstrate how the femtosecond laser pulse repetition rate, chromophore environment and incident laser polarization can become effective control parameters for such nonlinear optical properties. Graphical AbstractWe demonstrate how, irrespective of chromophore characteristics, the femtosecond laser pulse repetition rate, chromophore environment and incident laser polarization are effective control parameters for nonlinear optical properties arising from two-photon processes.

Applying genetic algorithm optimization to a folded geometry acousto-optic modulated spatial pulse shaper.

A folded geometry acousto-optic modulator spatial pulse shaper has been designed for shaping individual pulses from a high power amplified laser. The design preserves the capability of computer programmable amplitude and phase modulation of femtosecond laser pulses. An additional application of genetic algorithm optimization approach for compressing a stretched pulse is also demonstrated for such a pulse shaper. Spectrally and temporally resolved optical gating technique is used to characterize the shaped pulses.

Nonlinear optical properties of free standing films of PbS quantum dots in the nonresonant femtosecond regime

Devices based on optical technology for high speed communication networks require materials with large nonlinear optical response in the ultrafast regime. Nonlinear optical materials have also attracted wide attention as potential candidates for the protection of optical sensors and eyes while handling lasers. Optical limiters have a constant transmittance at low input influence and a decrease in transmittance at higher fluences and are based on a variety of mechanisms such as nonlinear refraction, nonlinear scattering, multiphoton absorption and free carrier absorption. As we go from bulk to nanosized materials especially in the strong quantum confinement regime where radius of the nanoparticle is less than the bulk exciton Bohr radius, the optical nonlinearity is enhanced due to quantum confinement effect. This paper is on the ultrafast nonresonant nonlinearity in free standing films of PbS quantum dots stabilized in a synthetic glue matrix by a simple chemical route which provides flexibility of processing in a variety of physical forms. Optical absorption spectrum shows significant blue shift from the bulk absorption onset indicating strong quantum confinement. PbS quantumdots of mean size 3.3nm are characterized by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The mechanism of nonlinear absorption giving rise to optical limiting is probed using open z-scan technique with laser pulses of 150 fs pulse duration at 780 nm and the results are presented in the nonresonant femtosecond regime. Irradiance dependence on nonlinear absorption are discussed.