Z-scan measurement of a novel amorphous molecular material

The nonlinear optical refractive and absorption of the novel amorphous molecular material, 5,5′-bis(dimesitylboryl)-2,2′-bithiophene have been investigated by using the Z-scan technique with a nanosecond-pulsed Nd:YAG laser at its second harmonic (532 nm) radiation. The nonlinear transmission characteristics exhibit saturable absorption at 532 nm and are explained by using the three-level saturable model. The saturation intensity, the real and imaginary parts of the nonlinear refraction index along with their sign were determined. These results indicate that BMB-2T is promising material for photonic applications. © 2001 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.