A single-beam photothermal-lensing technique to study interfaces is present
ed. By analysis of the reflection from a quartz-solution interface with a l
ow-power laser in a single-beam configuration, a photothermal signal is det
ected. The data were fitted with a conventional thermal lens model, and the
results show that the optical element formed at the interface resembles an
inverted thermal lens. (C) 1999 Optical Society of America. OCIS codes: 24
0.0240, 350.6830.