Thermal lensing

{
  "id": "MLC-T-CHM-011948",
  "term": "Thermal lensing",
  "field": "Chemistry",
  "definition": "A phenomenon where a laser beam passing through a medium causes localized heating, leading to a change in the refractive index of the medium. This change in refractive index creates a lens-like effect, either converging or diverging the laser beam. Thermal lensing is used in analytical techniques to detect small amounts of absorbed light.",
  "subject": "Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry",
  "see_also": [
    "laser",
    "photothermal effect",
    "refractive index"
  ],
  "references": [
    "PAC, 1996, 68, 2223. 'Glossary of terms used in photochemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1996)' on page 2279 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199668122223)"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/chemistry/thermal-lensing/"
}