The advent of lasers has made possible a number of optical-based systems and applications such as the compact disc (CD), laser printers, fiber optic communications, laser surgical instruments, etc. Unfortunately, while lasers permit these diverse applications, safety concerns must be addressed. A solution being pursued is the development of optical limiter materials that transmit at low intensities while changing their optical characteristics, e.g. absorption or index of refraction, when exposed to the laser's higher irradiances. Topics covered in this book relate directly to the computational design and synthesis of new optical molecules. Research on the design of limiter devices is also featured. Materials addressed include liquid crystals, organic polymers, organic dyes, C60, colloidal arrays and suspensions, transition metal oxides, semiconductors and photorefractive oxides. Topics include: modelling and solid state optical limiters; thin film and solid state optical limiters; saturable and reverse-saturable absorbers; liquid optical limiters and liquid crystalline and other optical limiters.

The proliferation of lasers and systems employing lasers has brought with it the potential for adverse effects from these bright, coherent light sources. This includes the possibility of damage from pulsed lasers, as well as temporary blinding by continuous-waver lasers. With nearly every wavelength possible being emitted by these sources, there exists a need to develop optical limiters and tunable filters which can suppress undesired radiation of any wavelength. This book addresses a number of materials and devices which have the potential for meeting the challenge. The proceedings is divided into five parts. Parts I and II cover research in organic and inorganic materials primarily based on nonlinear absorption or phase transitions for optical limiting of pulsed lasers. Part III includes photo-refractive materials and liquid crystals which find primary applications in dynamic filters. Part IV covers various aspects of device and material characterization, including nonlinear beam propagation effects. Theoretical modelling of materials properties is the subject of Part V.