Non-linear optical properties of titanium dioxide films containing dispersed gold particles

Rutile-type TiO2 films containing dispersed Au particles and having a refractive index of 2.7 were prepared by a multitarget sputtering method at a substrate temperature of 600 degrees C. In spite of the bombardment of Au particles during the TiO2 sputtering process, \chi((3))\/alpha was 3x10(-10) esu cm, which was 1.5 times larger than that calculated from the local field effect on Au particles in a TiO2 matrix. This increase in \chi(m)((3))\/alpha indicates an increase in \chi(m)((3))\ of the Au particles themselves. After laser irradiation, \chi((3))\/alpha increased to a maximum of 2 x 10(-8) esu cm which was about 100 times larger than that of conventional materials containing dispersed metal particles. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.