Antimony orthophosphate glasses with large nonlinear refractive indices, low two-photon absorption coefficients, and ultrafast response

Antimony glasses based on the composition Sb2O3–SbPO4 were prepared and characterized. The samples present high refractive index, good transmission from 380to2000nm, and high thermal stability. The nonlinear refractive index, n2, of the samples was studied using the optical Kerr shutter technique at 800nm. The third-order correlation signals between pump and probe pulses indicate ultrafast response (<100fs) for all compositions. Enhancement of n2 was observed by adding lead oxide to the Sb2O3–SbPO4 composition. Large values of n2≈10−14cm2∕W and negligible two-photon absorption coefficients (smaller than 0.01cm∕GW) were determined for all samples. The glass compositions studied present appropriate figure-of-merit for all-optical switching applications.