Two-Photon Absorption And Nonlinear Refraction In Isotropic Liquid Crystals

Picosecond nonlinear absorption and nonlinear refraction studies are presented for isotropic phase liquid crystals. These materials exhibit a large two-photon absorption coefficient (f3) at 532 nm, with values as large as 0.6 cm/GW. Nonlinear refraction was also observed and the nonlinear refractive index (n9) was measuv.qd at 1064 nm usiAg an external self-focusing arrangement. Values of n2 range from 6 x 10-13 esu to 17 x 10-13 esu.