Abstract
The nonlinear (NL) response of toluene was investigated at 1064 and 532 nm using a Nd:YAG laser delivering pulses in the picosecond regime and its second harmonic. The experiments were performed using the Z-scan D4σ technique. Two different regimes were identified for both wavelengths used: at moderate intensities, NL refractive indices of third- and fifth-order were measured, while above certain intensity, NL losses were phenomenologically estimated according to a cubic intensity dependency. This absorption is mainly attributed to multiphoton ionization. The observed saturation behavior for large intensities indicates the important contribution of free-carriers generation.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
R.W. Boyd, Nonlinear Optics (Academic Press, New York, 2008)
Y.R. Shen, The Principles of Nonlinear Optics (Wiley, New York, 1984)
R.W. Boyd, S.G. Lukishova, Y.R. Shen (eds.), Self-focusing: Past and Present (Fundamentals and Prospects). Topics in Applied Physics, vol. 114 (Springer, Berlin, 2009)
C. Brée, A. Demircan, G. Steinmeyer, Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 183902 (2011)
Y. Liu, M. Durand, S. Chen, A. Houard, B. Prade, B. Forestier, A. Mysyrowicz, Phys. Rev. Lett. 105, 055003 (2010)
B. Borchers, C. Brée, S. Birkholz, A. Demircan, G. Steinmeyer, Opt. Lett. 37, 1541 (2012)
V. Besse, H. Leblond, G. Boudebs, Phys. Rev. A 89, 043840 (2014)
A.S. Reynal, G. Boudebs, B.A. Malomed, C.B. de Arajo, Phys. Rev. A 93, 013840 (2016)
A. Brodeur, S.L. Chin, J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 16, 637–650 (1999)
G. Boudebs, V. Besse, C. Cassagne, H. Leblond, C.B. de Araújo, Opt. Lett. 38, 2206 (2013)
C.B. de Araújo, A.S.L. Gomes, G. Boudebs, Rep. Prog. Phys. 79, 036401 (2016)
M. Sheik-Bahae, A.A. Said, T.-H. Wei, D. Hagan, E.W. Van Stryland, IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 26, 760 (1990)
C. Schnebelin, C. Cassagne, C.B. de Araújo, G. Boudebs, Opt. Lett. 39, 5046 (2014)
K. Fedus, G. Boudebs, Opt. Commun. 292, 140 (2013)
L.V. Keldysh, Ionization in the field of a strong electromagnetic wave. Sov. Phys. JETP 20(5), 1307–1314 (1965)
Q. Feng, J.V. Moloney, A.C. Newell, E.M. Wright, Opt. Lett. 20, 1958 (1995)
V. Besse, H. Leblond, G. Boudebs, Phys. Rev. A 92, 013818 (2015)
S. Couris, M. Renard, O. Faucher, B. Lavorel, R. Chaux, E. Koudoumas, X. Michaut, Chem. Phys. Lett. 369, 318 (2003)
V. Besse, G. Boudebs, H. Leblond, Appl. Phys. B 116(4), 911–917 (2014)
H.S. Brandi, C.B. de Araujo, J. Phys. C: Solid State Phys. 16(30), 5929 (1983)
P.K. Kennedy, IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 31, 2241 (1995)
P.K. Kennedy, S.A. Boppart, D.X. Hammer, B.A. Rockwell, G.D. Noojin, W.P. Roach, IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 31, 2250 (1995)
Q. Feng, J.V. Moloney, A.C. Newell, E.M. Wright, K. Cook, P.K. Kennedy, D.X. Hammer, B.A. Rockwell, C.R. Thompson, IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 33, 127 (1997)
Acknowledgments
Cid B. de Araújo appreciate the hospitality of the Université d’Angers where part of this work was made. The Brazilian Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) is also acknowledged. G. B. acknowledges the hospitality of Universidade Federal de Pernambuco where another part of this work was done.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Boudebs, G., Wang, H., Cassagne, C. et al. Investigations on the nonlinear optical response and losses of toluene at 532 and 1064 nm in the picosecond regime. Appl. Phys. B 122, 111 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-016-6389-9
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-016-6389-9