Optical Kerr effect in liquids

Abstract

An experimental study was undertaken to measure the optical Kerr effect (OKE) in liquids induced by picosecond laser pulses. The effects of different parameters on the dynamics of the OKE are described. The following parameters were investigated: the spatial and temporal profiles of the laser pulses, the intensity of the exciting laser pulse, the length of the Kerr gate, the concentration of the sample solution, the relaxation time of the sample, the temperature, and the pair correlation factor. The nonlinear indices of refraction of 29 neat liquids were measured and tabulated.