Linear and nonlinear optical properties of single-walled carbon nanotubes within an ordered array of nanosized silica spheres

The linear and nonlinear optical properties of well-separated, single-walled carbon nanotubes were measured. The tubes were grown into the voids of an ordered array of silica spheres. Transmission of light through these tubes increased with the incident laser intensity. The nonlinear decay time of a lambda=800-nm probe was measured at 320 fs when the sample was pumped with 400-nm light. Current-voltage characteristics changed upon illumination with a laser beam. Raman scattering decreased as electrical biasing increased. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.