Direct measurement of the group-velocity mismatch and derivation of the refractive-index dispersion for a variety of solvents in the ultraviolet

A new method, to our knowledge, for use in the ultraviolet spectral range was developed for the direct measurement of the group-velocity mismatch (GVM) between two ultrashort pulses. It is based on a standard pump-probe spectroscopic arrangement. From the measured wavelength dependence of the GVM, the refractive-index dispersion can be determined if refractive-index data at one reference wavelength are known. The GVM was measured, and dispersion formulas were derived at room temperature in the 230 to 640 nm spectral range for 2-propanol, acetonitrile, cyclohexane, dimethyl sulfoxide, ethanol, ethyl acetate, ethylene glycol, methanol, n-hexane, toluene, and water. The results obtained for water show a good agreement with available experimental data. (c) 2005 Optical Society of America.