Fabrication of molybdenum oxide thin films with different Kerr nonlinearities and using them in random lasers

The development of random lasers (RLs) is attracting considerable interest. Here, we investigate how the nonlinear optical behaviors of scattering particles can affect the emission of RLs. In this regard, molybdenum oxide is synthesized by the electrodeposition method, and its nonlinear optical properties are measured using the Z-scan technique. Then, to study the nonlinear effects on RL emission, we insert molybdenum oxide in a conventional RL. It was observed that the emitted intensity enhanced for samples with a positive sign of nonlinear refractive index, while intensity degraded for samples with a negative refractive index. Our results show that both the sign and magnitude of the nonlinear refractive index can modify the intensity of RL emission at pump energies enough above the threshold.