INTERFEROMETRIC OBSERVATION OF ABSORPTION INDUCED INDEX CHANGE ASSOCIATED WITH THERMAL BLOOMING

Abstract
The induced index changes associated with thermal blooming have been observed in iodine‐doped CCl4 by means of a Mach‐Zehnder interferometer. The interference fringe shape next to the window and the temporal growth of the peak fringe displacement at various positions in the cell have been analyzed. Both the conductive and convective stages of thermal blooming are observed.