Abstract

The recently published theory of Sheik-Bahae et al [1] predicts the dispersion of the nonlinear index of refraction in solids. In reference [1], the authors compared their theory with a large number of experimental data in which the dispersion of n₂ was measured using the ratio of the incident photon energy and the energy gap of the solid, ħω/E_g. In most cases this ratio was chosen by using different materials which changes the energy gap and thus ħω/E_g. In this paper we directly determine the dispersion of n₂ by measuring the nonlinear refractive index of the material at different laser wavelengths.

© 1992 Optical Society of America