Origin and frequency dependence of nonlinear optical susceptibilities of glasses

Abstract

We have determined the frequency dependence of the nonlinear optical susceptibilities of fused quartz and four other glasses, and determined the relative contributions of "electronic" and "nuclear" mechanisms to their nonlinear optical indices. This is the first such determination in solids. Our method has been to analyze our own absolute measurement of ordinary differential Raman-scattering cross sections in conjunction with the coefficients for intensity-induced polarization changes measured by Owyoung in the same glasses.