Extremely nonlinear nano-modified liquid and liquid crystal optical metamaterials

We present an overview of nano-dispersed nonlinear organic liquids and liquid crystals and several nonlinear optical processes enabled by these extremely nonlinear optical metamaterials. In particular, we have developed a neat organic liquid that possess extraordinarily large femtoseconds-, picoseconds-, and nanoseconds- nonlinear multi-photon absorption properties well suited for optical limiting applications [1, 2]. Using this liquid as the wave-guiding core in fiber arrays, we have developed wide field of view imaging faceplate that could also act as passive sensor protection devices against visible pulsed lasers in the femtoseconds - nanoseconds time scale. Recent experiments have also confirmed that gold nano-spheres doped neat nonlinear liquids could extend the bandwidth of efficient all-optical switching operation from the visible to near infrared regime, and for time scales ranging through the microseconds to cw regime [3].