Enhanced Nonlinear Transmittance by Complementary Nonlinear Mechanisms: A Reverse‐Saturable Absorbing Dye Blended with Nonlinear‐Scattering Carbon Nanotubes

Abstract

A nonlinear transmitting device combining a reverse-saturable absorbing dye and nonlinearly scattering suspended carbon nanotubes offers superior performance over the constituent materials. The composite system is dominated by the absorption properties of the dye below the onset of nonlinear scattering from the nanotubes, but above the onset, the dye becomes saturated and nonlinear scattering dominates (see Figure), thus providing additional protection.