Ultrafast third-order nonlinear ultraviolet response exhibited by ion-implanted silicon nanoparticles in silica

Described herein is the evaluation of the nonlinear ultraviolet transmittance exhibited by Silicon nanoparticles nucleated in a high-purity silica matrix. A saturated absorption was identified as the main physical mechanism responsible for the nonlinear ultraviolet absorption in a nanosecond regime. A single-beam transmittance experiment was carried out with pulses provided by the third harmonic of a Nd:YAG laser system. A two-level model led us to estimate the ultrafast optical response of the nanoparticles. It is highlighted the potential of the sample to control nanophotonic signals.