Optical Limiting in Solutions of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Diones.

Optical limiting in toluene solutions of substituted benzanthracene- 3,4 diones and three other quinones, namely, benzpyrene-7,8-dione, benzphenanthrene-3,4-dione and chrysene-5,6-dione was investigated at laser wavelengths 532 nm and 694 nm. Low limiting threshold values of the order of 0.01J/cm2 were obtained for some of the quinones at 532nm. Strong triplet-triplet absorption at the excitation laser wavelengths may explain the optical limiting behavior.