Determining the nonlinear refractive index of fused quartz by Femtosecond Laser Z-scan technology

Z-scan technology is an experimental technique for determining the nonlinear refractive index based on the principle of transformation of phase distortion to amplitude distortion when a laser beam propagates through a nonlinear material. For most of the Z-scan system based on the nanosecond or picosecond laser, the accumulation of thermal effects becomes a big problem in nonlinear refractive index measurement especially for the nonlinear materials such as fused quartz and neodymium glass which have a weak nonlinear refractive effect. To overcome this problem, a system for determining the nonlinear refractive index of optical materials based on the femtosecond laser Z-scan technology is presented. Using this system, the nonlinear refractive index of the fused quartz is investigated.