Metalloporphyrin polymer with temporally agile, broadband nonlinear absorption for optical limiting in the near infrared

© 2009 Optical Society of AmericaThe definitive version of this paper is available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OE.17.018478DOI: 10.1364/OE.17.018478A lead bis(ethynyl)porphyrin polymer possesses strong nonlinear absorption with unprecedented spectral/temporal coverage as a result of broad, overlapping two-photon and excited-state absorption bands with favorable excited-state dynamics. Consequently, this material exhibits effective optical limiting over a range of about 500 nm in the near infrared (ca. 1050–1600 nm) and for laser pulsewidths spanning from 75 fs to 40 ns. Introduction of the material in a waveguide device geometry results in a strong optical limiting response