title: Z-scan measurements using femtosecond continuum generation.
abstract: We present a single beam Z-scan technique using an intense, broadband, white-light continuum (WLC) beam for the direct measurement of nonlinear absorption spectra. In order to demonstrate the validity of our technique, we compared the results of tetraaniline and Sudan 3 solutions obtained with WLC and conventional single wavelength light sources. Both approaches lead to the same nonlinear spectrum, indicating that the association of the Z-scan technique and the WLC source results in an useful method for the measurement of nonlinear spectra of both absorbing (saturable absorption or reverse saturable absorption) and transparent (two-photon absorption) samples.
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Boni
authors.forename: Acácio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: Lino
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Misoguti
authors.forename: Cléber
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mendonça
authors.forename: Sérgio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zilio