Interferometric measurements of the nonlinear refractive-index coefficient relative to CS 2 in laser-system-related materials

Using time-resolved interferometry, we have compared the nonlinear wavefront distortion induced by the simultaneous propagation of an intense light beam in pertinent sample materials relative to the known reference material. Utilizing several normalization techniques, these measurements have led to precise values for the nonlinear coefficient n 2 good to 10 percent.