Review and assessment of measured values of the nonlinear refractive-index coefficient of fused silica.

The literature describes more than 30 measurements, at wavelengths between 249 and 1550 nm, of the absolute value of the nonlinear refractive-index coefficient of fused silica. Results of these experiments were assessed and best currently available values were selected for the wavelengths of 351, 527, and 1053 nm. The best values are (3.6 ? 0.64) x 10(-16) cm(2)/W at 351 nm, (3.0 ? 0.35) x 10(-16) cm(2)/W at 527 nm, and (2.74 ? 0.17) x 10(-16) cm(2)/W at 1053 nm.