Nonlinear absorption is a phenomenon that occurs when the absorption of light in a material depends on the intensity of that light, rather than being constant as in linear absorption. This behavior can lead to various effects during laser propagation, such as changes in the refractive index, generation of new frequencies of light, or saturation of absorption. Understanding nonlinear absorption is crucial for predicting how lasers will interact with different media, which can significantly affect their performance and applications.
congrats on reading the definition of nonlinear absorption. now let's actually learn it.