An experimental investigation of the nonlinear refractive index (<f>n2</f>) of carbon disulfide and toluene by spectral shearing interferometry and z-scan techniques

The recently proposed spectral shear interferometry and the well-known z-scan techniques were employed for the determination of the nonlinear refractive index <f>n2</f> of <f>CS2</f>, toluene and fused silica. The determined <f>n2</f> values by both techniques were found to be in very good agreement. In addition, the role of the repetition rate of the laser is also investigated revealing its importance for the correct determination of both the size and the sign of the nonlinearity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]