6533b7d8fe1ef96bd126aec6

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Measurement of high order Kerr refractive index of major air components

Vincent LoriotEdouard HertzOlivier FaucherBruno Lavorel

subject

Kerr effectMaterials science[ PHYS.PHYS.PHYS-ATOM-PH ] Physics [physics]/Physics [physics]/Atomic Physics [physics.atom-ph]Physics::Optics01 natural sciences010309 opticsOpticsSelf-focusing0103 physical sciencesUltrafast nonlinear opticsZ-scan technique[PHYS.PHYS.PHYS-ATOM-PH] Physics [physics]/Physics [physics]/Atomic Physics [physics.atom-ph]010306 general physicsSelf-phase modulationOptical Kerr effect[PHYS.PHYS.PHYS-ATOM-PH]Physics [physics]/Physics [physics]/Atomic Physics [physics.atom-ph]Molecular alignment320.2250 350.5400 260.5950business.industryFemtosecond phenomenaCross-phase modulationAirSelf-focusingPolarization (waves)Atomic and Molecular Physics and OpticsRefractometryMagneto-optic Kerr effectPlasmasGasesbusinessRefractive indexAlgorithmsEnvironmental Monitoring

description

International audience; We measure the instantaneous electronic nonlinear refractive index of N2 , O2 , and Ar at room temperature for a 90 fs and 800 nm laser pulse. Measurements are calibrated by post-pulse molecular alignment through a polarization technique. At low intensity, quadratic coefficients n2 are determined. At higher intensities, a strong negative contribution with a higher nonlinearity appears, which leads to an overall negative nonlinear Kerr refractive index in air above 26 TW/cm2 .

https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00410677