Abstract

Optical second harmonic generation has recently been shown to be an effective probe for surface studies. Its surface specificity derives from the fact that the process is generally forbidden in a bulk with inversion symmetry but always allowed at a surface or interface. As an optical technique, the method has the advantages of being non-destructive, capable of ultrafast time resolution, and applicable to interfaces between condensed media. We consider here only applications of the method to studies of molecular adsorption at interfaces.

© 1985 Optical Society of America