Comparison between the optical constants obtained by the Kramers-Kronig analysis and the maximum entropy method: infrared optical properties of orthorhombic sulfur

Optical and terahertz spectra analysis by the maximum entropy method

Phase retrieval is one of the classical problems in various fields of physics including x-ray crystallography, astronomy and spectroscopy. It arises when only an amplitude measurement on electric field can be made while both amplitude and phase of the field are needed for obtaining the desired material properties. In optical and terahertz spectroscopies, in particular, phase retrieval is a one-dimensional problem, which is considered as unsolvable in general. Nevertheless, an approach utilizing the maximum entropy principle has proven to be a feasible tool in various applications of optical, both linear and nonlinear, as well as in terahertz spectroscopies, where the one-dimensional phase retrieval problem arises. In this review, we focus on phase retrieval using the maximum entropy method in various spectroscopic applications. We review the theory behind the method and illustrate through examples why and how the method works, as well as discuss its limitations.

Kramers-Kronig relations and sum rules in nonlinear optical spectroscopy

The full potential of the Kramers-Kronig relations and sum rules for nonlinear susceptibilities has unfortunately drawn relatively little attention in nonlinear optical spectra analysis. In this feature article a simple treatment of an anharmonic oscillator model in description of the nonlinear susceptibility of media and holomorphic properties of the nonlinear susceptibility were utilized. Using such concepts, conventional Kramers-Kronig, multiply-subtractive Kramers-Kronig, and generalized Kramers-Kronig dispersion relations can be derived. We demonstrate how in practice the variety of different Kramers-Kronig relations mentioned above, as well as various sum rules, can be applied in nonlinear optical spectra analysis. As an example we treat the third-harmonic wave generation spectrum from a polymer.

Multiply subtractive kramers-kronig analysis of optical data

We describe a new, multiply subtractive Kramers-Kronig (MSKK)method to find the optical constants of a material from a singletransmittance or reflectance spectrum covering a small frequencydomain. The MSKK method incorporates independent measurements ofn and k at one or more reference wave-numbervalues to minimize errors due to extrapolations of the data. Anunexpected connection between the MSKK equations and the interpolationtheory allows us to derive the equations from an interpolationtheorem. We found that the locations of the reference points affectthe accuracy of the values determined for the optical constants andthat the optimal spacing of N reference data points isrelated to the zeros of a suitably transformed Chebychev polynomial oforder N. We discuss our efforts to optimize both the numberand the spacing of these reference points and apply our method to sometest spectra.