Optical-Field-Induced Birefringence and Freedericksz Transition in a Nematic Liquid Crystal

Abstract

Optical-field-induced birefringence in nematic 4-cyano-4\ensuremath{'}-pentylbiphenyl was measured with cw pump and probe beams, and the optical-field-induced Freedericksz transition was observed for the first time. The results are in quantitative agreement with the theoretical prediction.