Measurements of absorption coefficients using noncontact fiber-optic laser calorimetry

A noncontact laser calorimetric method for low absorption-coefficient measurements of various optical materials is proposed. For temperature monitoring of the samples, silver halide fiber radiometry is utilized. The capability of this technique is demonstrated by the measurement of the absorption coefficients of fused-quartz rods at 500 nm (Ar laser radiation) and of mixed silver halide crystals and fibers at 10.6 μm (CO₂ laser radiation). Good agreement with ordinary laser calorimetry is obtained.