LASER-INDUCED MULTIPHOTON PHOTOCONDUCTIVITY IN DIRECT AND INDIRECT BAND GAP CRYSTALS USING Z-SCAN TECHNIQUE

Abstract

Nanosecond laser pulses have employed the photoconductive Z-scan technique. Photoconductivity traces measured by moving the sample across the laser beam waist were used for measuring two and three-photon absorption processes. The value of the three-photon absorption coefficient β3=9.6×10-10 cm 3/ GW 2 in the case of direct, and 8.96×10-12 cm 3/ GW 2 and 5.0×10-12 cm 3/ GW 2 in the case of indirect band gap crystals have been estimated from a comparison of traces measured by exciting the sample with the first and second harmonics of Nd : YAG laser. The low value of β3 in the case of indirect band gap crystals compared to direct band gap crystals is attributed to phonon-assisted transitions.