Multipath Data Storage by Third-Order Nonlinear Optical Properties in Zinc Oxide Nanostructures

Abstract

Simultaneous activation of multiphotonic absorption and nonlinear optical refraction were employed for developing a multipath load balancing technique assisted by light and zinc oxide nanostructures. Data storage as the real and imaginary part of the third-order nonlinear optical behavior of different regions in bidimensional systems was proposed. By recording the third-order nonlinear optical response exhibited by the nanomaterials, a straightforward XOR encryption system controlled by laser pulses was developed. Identification of nonlinear optical signals in propagation through the samples was monitored by a standard optical Kerr gate configuration. Vectorial two-wave mixing experiments were carried out for measuring the third-order optical nonlinearities of the samples explored by nanosecond pulses at 532 nm wavelength. A spray pyrolysis processing route was employed for the preparation of the samples in thin film form. Third-order nonlinear optical characteristics were analyzed taking into account the modification in the ZnO-based nanocomposites by single-pulsed irradiation close to the ablation threshold effect. The combination of nonlinear optics and nanostructured films can be considered for developing ultrafast smart objects with immediate applications for signal processing functions driven by multiphotonic phenomena.