Variable stimulated Brillouin scattering pulse compressor for nonlinear optical measurements

Abstract

We have developed and characterized a novel method of measuring the transient response of third-order optical nonlinearities using degenerate four-wave mixing and a phase-conjugated laser system. Variable compression of laser pulses allows selective probing of a material for thermal effects and faster nonlinearities such as electronic or reorientational effects. We confirm the utility of the system by demonstrating time-scale-dependent nonlinear optical behavior in an organometallic liquid crystal. © 1997 Optical Society of America.