Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 10, 2026

The Frequency Domain Thermoreflectance Technique for Thermal Property Measurements
Published on: December 5, 2025
Nonlinear total internal reflection through the thermoplastic effect
Abstract:
We report on the observation of strong nonlinear optical behavior of SF59 Schott glass. An unfocused Ar' laser beam undergoing total internal reflection in this glass shows extremely strong selffocusing. This effect is ~ 1 order of magnitude higher than the usual thermal lensing, and, by means of an interferometric technique, we demonstrate that this effect is due to the thermoplastic effect. Focal lengths that are shorter than 10 cm are observed for the beam intensity I asymptotically equal to 30 W/cm(2). The use of this glass as a self-limiter is shown experimentally.
Related Concept Videos
Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) Infrared Spectroscopy: Overview
The ATR process begins by directing a beam...
Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence Microscopy
Thermal Strain
