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Main Authors: Wahlstrand, J. K., Cruz, C. D.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.10340
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author Wahlstrand, J. K.
Cruz, C. D.
author_facet Wahlstrand, J. K.
Cruz, C. D.
contents Phase-sensitive pump-probe hyperspectral imaging is a precise technique for absolute two-beam measurements of the optical Kerr coefficient ($n_2$). The irradiance profile is characterized and background effects are rejected by rastering the pump beam across the probe beam to yield a complex-valued hyperspectral image of the pump-induced nonlinear response. Information about the temporal irradiance profile is carried in the spectral response. The technique is demonstrated by measuring $n_2$ of a fused silica sample near 1 $μ$m wavelength and benchmarked against a measurement using Z-scan [Sheik-Bahae et al., IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 26, 760-769 (1990)], the most commonly used single-beam technique. Good agreement is found when the two-beam grating effect from the Raman contribution to the nonlinearity is considered. Uncertainty contributions are described in detail and the outlook is discussed for improvements in precision.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2604_10340
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Precise measurement of the Kerr coefficient using phase-sensitive pump-probe hyperspectral imaging
Wahlstrand, J. K.
Cruz, C. D.
Optics
Phase-sensitive pump-probe hyperspectral imaging is a precise technique for absolute two-beam measurements of the optical Kerr coefficient ($n_2$). The irradiance profile is characterized and background effects are rejected by rastering the pump beam across the probe beam to yield a complex-valued hyperspectral image of the pump-induced nonlinear response. Information about the temporal irradiance profile is carried in the spectral response. The technique is demonstrated by measuring $n_2$ of a fused silica sample near 1 $μ$m wavelength and benchmarked against a measurement using Z-scan [Sheik-Bahae et al., IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 26, 760-769 (1990)], the most commonly used single-beam technique. Good agreement is found when the two-beam grating effect from the Raman contribution to the nonlinearity is considered. Uncertainty contributions are described in detail and the outlook is discussed for improvements in precision.
title Precise measurement of the Kerr coefficient using phase-sensitive pump-probe hyperspectral imaging
topic Optics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.10340