Viscosity dependence of optical limiting in carbon black suspensions

We measure the optical limiting behavior of carbon black suspensions in various viscosity solvents by using a 10-Hz repetition rate, 532-nm, 5-ns pulsed laser. We found that, for common solvents used in the past such as water and ethanol, the limiting behavior ceases after a few laser firings and a turnover in the limiting curve appears. This can be explained by depletion of the carbon black within the focal volume. This turnover shifts to lower energies as the viscosity of the solvent becomes greater. However, for low viscosity liquids, such as carbon disulfide or pentane, the limiting is unaffected by the repetition rate, at least for frequencies up to 10 Hz, because of diffusion of the carbon black particles. This diffusion allows fresh material to replace the irradiated volume within the time between pulses. (C) 2002 Optical Society of America.