Dispersion measurements of optical materials using white light interferometry

Summary form only given. Because of the broad bandwidth of femtosecond laser pulses, dispersion coefficients are important parameters in femtosecond pulse propagation. Dispersion coefficients of dielectrics and nonlinear materials such as barium borate (BBO) are measured over an extended wavelength range, and improved equations are sought for these materials. Using a white light Michelson interferometer, we measure dispersion coefficients of materials placed in one arm of the interferometer for wavelengths from 0.4-1.1 /spl mu/m.