Picosecond cubic and quintic nonlinearity of lithium niobate at 532 nm

Abstract: The nonlinear (NL) optical response of bulk lithium niobate (LiNbO$_3$) was investigated at 532 nm using the second harmonic of a Nd:YAG laser delivering pulses of 12 ps. The experiments were performed using the D4$\sigma$ method combined with the conventional Z-scan technique. Two- and three-photon absorption coefficients equal to 0.27 cm/GW and 2.5x10^-26 m3/W2, respectively, were determined. The NL absorption processes were due to transitions from the valence to the conduction band and to free-carriers absorption. The third- and fifth-order NL refractive indices were $n_2=(2.5 \pm 0.6)\times 10^{-19}$ m$^2$/W and $n_4<5.5 \times 10^{-36}$ m$^4$/W$^2$. The present results give support for previous experiments that indicate possible fifth-order processes in bulk samples and channel waveguides fabricated with LiNbO$_3$.