Efeito de Lente Térmica: Uma demonstração de baixo custo para laboratórios de ensino sobre a capacidade da luz em modificar o índice de refração de um meio

Abstract

The teaching of Optics in the undergraduate courses that have General Physics in their syllabi, usually focus on elementary topics of geometrical and wave optics, put aside actual subjects of this field. So usually are not discussed importants topics from both, basic reaserch and technological applications. One of this topics is nonlinear optics. This paper presents a proposal of a low-cost experiment for demonstrating that the light can modify the optical properties of a medium.The experiment is founded in the induction of a lens in a medium due to optical absorption followed by a nonradiative relaxation. The sample used in this experiment is a fluid of easy obtainment, soy sauce.