Nonlinear-optical response of porous-glass-based composite materials

We formed composite materials with geometries approximating that of the Bruggeman model by filling the pores of a porous glass with optically nonlinear fluids spanning a range of linear refractive indices. The effective linear refractive indices of the composites were measured with a Mach–Zehnder interferometer. The effective nonlinear refractive indices were determined by the Z-scan method. In both cases good agreement between the experimental data and theoretical predictions was found.