Enhanced optical limiting in nanosized mixed zinc ferrites

Optical limiting performance of zinc ferrite, nickel zinc ferrite, and copper zinc ferrite nanoparticles is investigated at 532 nm using 5 nanosecond laser pulses. Enhanced optical limiting is observed in the mixed zinc ferrites, which is attributed to the relative longevity of self-trapped charge transfer states. Samples exhibit absorption saturation followed by a rapid onset of optical limiting as the input fluence is increased. This is advantageous in applications where detector sensitivity should be retained at the maximum value until the input fluence approaches the detector damage regime. The Z-scan results are compared to those measured in C-60. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4724194]