Measurement of nonlinear refractive index of Ag and Au nano-particles using moiré technique

In this paper we have measured second order nonlinear refractive index of Ag and Au nano-particles using the moiré deflectometry with a CW He-Ne laser at wavelength of 632.8 nm. The main advantages of this technique are its extreme experimental simplicity and low sensitivity to external distribution in comparison with other interfrometric methods that need very stable experimental set-up. Because of self-focusing (or self-defocusing) that is due to intensity dependent refractive index, presence of sample in the moiré deflectometry set-up lead to rotation of moiré fringes. By moving the sample in set-up we have measured these rotation angles in different displacements from focus point of lens used in this set-up and then we have calculated the nonlinear refractive index of Ag and Au nano-particles using their values. Also we have obtained the sign of n₂ regard to the direction of rotations. Consequently by using the Mathematica software we have exhibited the suitable fitness of theoretical curve with experimental results.