Abstract:
We present the results of several experimental studies of infrared [IR] nonlinear optical responses of aligned nematic liquid crystals, including laser induced molecular reorientation, density-, thermal- and order paramter-changes, optical wave mixing, beam amplification, and interface switching effects. Using lasers in the near-IR [1.55 μm], mid-IR [5 μm] and IR [10.6 μm] spectral regime, the potentials for nonlinear optical applications with CW, millisecond to microsecond lasers are explored