Abstract

A differential interferometric method for direct measurements of the real part of the nonlinear index of refraction n₂ has been developed. With this method we were able to measure n₂ as low as 10⁻¹⁰ cm²/W. This method was used to measure n₂ in both ruby and GdAlO₃:Cr⁺³ for the first time. Our results show that the real part of n₂ in ruby is an order of magnitude larger than the imaginary part. This result clarifies the controversy about the dispersive or absorptive origin of the phase conjugation in ruby- and cromium-doped crystals.

© 1986 Optical Society of America

Saturation effects in degenerate four-wave mixing in ruby and GdAlO₃:Cr⁺³

T. Catunda, A. M. Cansian, and J. C. Castro
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 8(4) 820-823 (1991)

Transverse self-phase modulation in ruby and GdAlO₃:Cr⁺³ crystals

T. Catunda and L. A. Cury
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 7(8) 1445-1455 (1990)

Optically pump-induced athermal and nonresonant refractive index changes in the reference Cr-doped laser materials: Cr:GSGG and ruby

Thomas Godin, Richard Moncorgé, Jean-Louis Doualan, Mickael Fromager, Kamel Ait-Ameur, Renato Antonio Cruz, and Tomaz Catunda
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 29(5) 1055-1064 (2012)

Nonlinear refraction spectroscopy in resonance with laser lines in solids

S. M. Lima, H. Jiao, L. A. O. Nunes, and T. Catunda
Opt. Lett. 27(10) 845-847 (2002)

Measurements of the anisotropic nonlinear refractive-index coefficients of ruby

Hak Kyu Lee and Sang Soo Lee
Opt. Lett. 15(1) 54-56 (1990)