Abstract

Centrosymmetry of molecular aggregates having a center of inversion can be broken by applying an external DC electric field and even-order nonlinear optical processes can be studied. Electric field induced second-harmonic generation (EFISHG) has been studied in centrosymmetric polydiacetelene (PDA) to investigate resonant enhancement of χ⁽³⁾ (-2ω;ω,ω,0) and two photon generation of carriers¹ and determine the phase and value of χ⁽³⁾ (-2ω;ω,ω,0) ². EFISHG experiments have also been reported on molecules in solution to study the molecular environment³ and influence of carrier substituents⁴. In this paper, we report the first EFISHG measurements in optically transparent, ferroelectric oxide PLZT (La- doped lead zirconate titanate) ceramic materials.

© 1988 Optical Society of America