Abstract

We present a detailed theory for and experimental studies of the mechanisms, the dynamics, and the temperature dependences of optical nonlinearities of nematic liquid crystals in the infrared regime. Material characterizations have been conducted on a collection of nematic liquid crystals having various nematic → isotropic transition temperature and absorption characteristics in the 2-12-μm spectral area. Optical wave mixing experiments are performed to evaluate the relative contributions of orientational and thermal nonlinearities using CO and CO₂ lasers.

© 1989 Optical Society of America