Abstract
Nonlinear refraction causes phase perturbations when a light field propagates through a material, leading to such effects as self-phase modulation and self-focusing, which may degrade the pulse temporal and spatial properties.1 A determination of the value of the nonlinear refractive index n2 of optical materials is mandatory to avoid laser-induced damage and beam break-up in the generation and application of intense femtosecond pulses.
© 1995 Optical Society of America
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