MOLECULAR-FIELD-ENHANCED OPTICAL KERR-EFFECT IN ABSORBING LIQUIDS

A large enhancement of the optical Kerr nonlinearity associated with l ight-induced molecular orientation is observed in a liquid of anisotro pic organic molecules when it is doped with a small amount of dye. The effect is ascribed to a photoinduced intermolecular force field, whos e orienting action adds to the direct optical field action. The experi mental results are in agreement with a model based on such interpretat ion. The proposed mechanism is in principle very general, and should w ork in all absorbing liquids made of anisotropic molecules.