A precise data processing method for extracting χ(3) from Z-scan technique

We present a precise data processing method, in the Z-scan experiments using a Gaussian beam and trimmed Airy beam, for directly extracting nonlinear refraction from the closed aperture Z-scan trace with the aid of the open aperture Z-scan trace when the materials exhibit nonlinear refraction and nonlinear absorption simultaneously. This method is still applicable when the nonlinear absorption is dominant and the closed aperture Z-scan curve degenerates into a single valley configuration, which is a salient advantage over other methods. In addition, we give gracefully empirical formulas with very high precision, which have good practicability for characterizing the optical nonlinearities of materials by use of the Gaussian beam and trimmed Airy beam Z-scan technique, respectively.