Optimization of the transverse concentration profile in optical limiting devices

A new design of optical limiters is presented. The transverse concentration profiles that allow to use the potentiality of reverse saturable absorbers to the best advantage are determined. The problem is formulated in a varia tional form and then solved analytically using the calculus of variations. Relatively high nonlinearities together with thick samples can be considere d using a decomposition in Adomian polynomials. This method can be extended to other nonlinear optical problems where the transverse concentration pro file of molecules has to be adjusted to best advantage. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.