Studies of organic molecules as saturable absorbers at 193 nm

A systematic study of several classes of organic molecules in liquid solvents has been performed to survey candidates suitable as saturable absorbers at 193 nm. Materials with appropriate optical properties would serve the essential function of optical isolation in the implementation of high-energy picosecond ArF* laser systems. Twenty-three molecular systems have been found which exhibit appropriate saturation behavior at practical fluences. The properties of these systems, including solvent effects, are discussed.