Broadband characterization of the nonlinear optical properties of common reference materials

We report on the systematic, broadband characterization of the third-order nonlinearities of the commonly used reference materials: sapphire, the lead-silica glass SF-59 and pure carbon disulfide CS(2). Using the z-scan technique with ~1-ps pulses experimental data on the nonlinear refraction and two-photon absorption were obtained in the 550-1600 nm wavelength range. Theoretical treatment of spectra and scaling of the measured nonlinearities in sapphire and SF-59 glass is given using a simple Kramers-Kronig transformation-based model. Compact empirical relations are suggested.