Excited state absorption/random surface scattering optical limiter

The optical limiting of Q-switched Nd: YAG radiation at 532 nm is performed using Fullerenes-toluene solution contained in a cell with a random rough surface. One of the inside surface of K9 glass was roughened. At low incident fluences the radom rough surface windows index matchs with Fullerenes solution, so optical limiting behavior in Fullerenes-toluene solution is based on excited state absorption. At high incident fluences thermally induced index change causes a sufficient index mismatch at the random rough surface and leads to significant scattering. Additional limiting due to scattering occurs. The limiter of excited state absorption/random surface scattering is superior to the limiter of purely excited state absorption.