Enhancement of nonlinear self-action in CS/sub 2/ for nanosecond optical limiting

Summary form only given. We have shown that the nonlinear refraction in CS/sub 2/ for nanosecond pulses is due to a combination of the molecular reorientation (Kerr) effect and electrostriction. The latter works best for tightly focused beams and longer pulses. Modeling indicates that without the electrostrictive effect, the CS/sub 2/ would not be able to protect the PbPc cell from optical damage. We have also studied other mechanisms that might further improve the CS/sub 2/ limiting, including solutions of two-photon absorbers in the CS/sub 2/ and the suspension of carbon black particles in the CS/sub 2/. Carbon black suspensions (CBS) are known to produce strong limiting due to their nonlinear scattering properties. We show how the addition of CBS to the CS/sub 2/ enhances the limiting effect at low to moderate energies with a small penalty in linear transmittance.