Z-scan determination of the third-order optical nonlinearity of a triphenylmethane dye using 633 nm He–Ne laser

The third-order nonlinear optical response of a triphenylmethane dye (Acid blue 7) was studied using the Z-scan technique with a continuous-wave He–Ne laser radiation at 633 nm. The magnitude and sign of the third-order nonlinear refractive index n2 of aqueous solution of Acid blue 7 dye were determined; the negative sign indicates a self-defocusing optical nonlinearity in the sample studied. The negative nonlinear refractive index n2 and nonlinear absorption coefficient β were estimated to be −1.88 × 10−7 cm2/W and −3.08 × 10−3 cm/W, respectively, corresponding to Re(χ(3)) = −8.35 × 10−6 esu, and Im(χ(3)) = −6.88 × 10−7 esu. The experimental results show that Acid blue 7 dye have potential applications in nonlinear optics.