Broadband Z-scan characterization using a high-spectral-irradiance, high-quality supercontinuum

    Authors

    M. Balu; L. A. Padilha; D. J. Hagan; E. W. Van Stryland; S. Yao; K. Belfield; S. J. Zheng; S. Barlow;S. Marder

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    J. Opt. Soc. Am. B-Opt. Phys.

    Keywords

    FEMTOSECOND LASER-PULSES; CONTINUUM Z-SCAN; 2-PHOTON ABSORPTION; NONLINEAR REFRACTION; MOVING FOCUS; SINGLE-BEAM; AIR; GENERATION; PROPAGATION; DISPERSION; Optics

    Abstract

    We generate a high-spectral-irradiance, high-quality continuum by weakly focusing femtosecond pulses in Kr gas. We use this continuum as a source for rapid Z-scan measurements of the degenerate nonlinear absorption spectrum and the associated dispersion of the nonlinear refraction in optical materials throughout the visible. We measure the degenerate two-photon absorption spectra and the dispersion of the nonlinear refractive index, n(2), of two well-characterized semiconductors (ZnSe and ZnS) as reference samples for our method, along with dilute solutions of organic materials. The latter materials demonstrate application of the technique to samples with lower nonlinearities. (c) 2008 Optical Society of America.

    Journal Title

    Journal of the Optical Society of America B-Optical Physics

    Volume

    25

    Issue/Number

    2

    Publication Date

    1-1-2008

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    159

    Last Page

    165

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000253434500006

    ISSN

    0740-3224

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