Cross phase modulation artifact in liquid phase transient absorption spectroscopy

We present experimental results for the cross phase modulation (xpm) induced transient absorption signal in a 1 mm thick fused silica plate using a white light continuum as a probe. The fused silica plate mimics the entrance window of a commercial flow cell commonly used in liquid-phase transient absorption measurements. The experimental results are compared with those obtained theoretically by numerically solving the set of nonlinear coupled wave equations describing the propagation of the pump and the probe. The simulations allow for the different group velocities of the pump and probe pulses, and include the influence of the first and second order dispersion on the continuum probe. From the calculations the physical origin of the complex oscillatory feature observed around the zero time delay of each wavelength of the (chirped) continuum has been accurately identified. The influence of propagation effects arising from the finite thickness of the sample is discussed in great detail, and the necessity to work with thin samples, preferably free-flowing jets, is emphasized. The good agreement between theory and experiment indicates that the xpm artifact may be useful for characterizing the continuum probe, in particular its chirp. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-8979(00)08004-X].