Ultrashort Laser Pulse Phenomena, 2nd Edition

70 Femtosecond Optics

Equation (2.12) is not limited to dielectric samples. Instead, any optical trans-

fer function

˜

H which can be described by an equation similar to Eq. (1.164),

can be determined from such a procedure. For instance, the preceding discussion

remains valid for absorbing materials, in which case the wave vector is complex,

and Eq. (2.12) leads to a complete determination of the real and imaginary part

of the index of refraction of the sample versus frequency. Another example is the

response of an optical mirror, as we will see in the following subsection.

2.3. DISPERSION OF INTERFEROMETRIC

STRUCTURES

2.3.1. Mirror Dispersion

In optical experiments, mirrors are used for different purposes and are usually

characterized only in terms of ...