Abstract
We report on a method aimed at measuring both the real and imaginary parts of the third-order Kerr-type nonlinear-optical susceptibility of isotropic materials. It is based on Kerr ellipsometry in which analysis of the polarization state of transmitted light between a nearly crossed polarizer and an analyzer allows separation of pump-induced dichroism and birefringence. The method provides a natural measurement of nonlinear phase retardations in angle units, without any calibration procedure. By using a white-light continuum as a probe, this property is used to get a simultaneous measurement of the nonlinear dispersion in the whole visible spectrum. It is illustrated in tetramethylsilane, where stimulated Stokes and anti-Stokes Raman contributions to the nonlinearity are observed.
© 1991 Optical Society of America
Full Article | PDF ArticleMore Like This
M. Karlsson, D. Anderson, M. Desaix, and M. Lisak
Opt. Lett. 16(18) 1373-1375 (1991)
Claire Gu and Pochi Yeh
Opt. Lett. 16(3) 129-131 (1991)
M. G. Kuzyk, R. A. Norwood, J. W. Wu, and A. F. Garito
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 6(2) 154-164 (1989)