Pulse duration and wavelength effects on optical limiting behaviour in carbon nanotube suspensions

Summary form only. To study the optical limiting performances as a function of the pulse duration, we have carried out nonlinear transmittance with f/30 focusing geometry for different pulse durations and wavelengths. These experiments are realized with single wall carbon nanotubes suspended in chloroform and in water. For long pulse durations, the optical limiting behaviour is very promising and we have reduced the optical limiting threshold by more than an order of magnitude. We illustrate optical limiting performances for two pulse durations.