Linear and nonlinear optical properties of C60 derivative sol-gels

Optical limiting properties of a sol-gel, functionalized with C(60) derivative molecule were studied by the nonlinear transmission technique in 480-650 nm wavelength range with nanosecond pulsed laser. The solid plates, with functionalized derivative C(60) concentration equal to 0.004 ML(-1), show interesting limiting behavior with threshold around 0.01 J/cm(2). The damage threshold ranges between 0.1 and 10 J/cm(2) depending upon the sample optical quality. The nonlinear optical properties of sol-gels were determined also by the optical third harmonic generation. At 1907 nin the cubic chi ((3))(-3 omega; omega, omega, omega) susceptibility is of 1.3(+/-0.1) x 10(-14) esu.