Z-scan analytical theory for material with saturable absorption and two-photon absorption

By using the Adomian decomposition method, we present the transmitted optical intensity of a nonlinear medium with the concurrence of saturable absorption (SA) and two-photon absorption (TPA) processes. We obtain the analytical expression of the open-aperture Z-scan and investigate the interplay between SA and TPA in the Z-scan trace. Through Z-scan measurements at different levels of laser intensities, both the saturable intensity and TPA coefficient could be obtained quickly yet unambiguously. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.