77 K have been made, at very low light intensities, using a cw CO laser with a novel
attenuator system. Non-linear refraction and absorption are found to increase strongly with
intensity above 30 W/cm 2 and, in addition at 4 K, the absorption decreases markedly for
intensities from 1 mW/cm 2 to 30 W/cm 2 and thereafter increases. Possible origins of these
effects are discussed.