Influence of the experimental conditions on the determination of nonlinear optical parameters of a medium using the Z-scan technique

The influence of the experimental parameters on the determination of the optical nonlinearities of materials by the z-scan technique is investigated. The experimental parameters considered in this study are: the sample's length, the self-focusing, the cell's lensing and/or wedging, the laser repetition rate, the temporal and spatial profile of the laser beam and the multiple internal reflections. As shown, these parameters can seriously affect the macroscopic nonlinear optical response of a medium.