Nonlinear circular dichroism in a liquid of chiral molecules: A theoretical investigation

Introducing nonlocal effects such as magnetic dipolar and electric quadrupo lar ones in the time-dependent perturbation theory, we show that a liquid o f chiral molecules should exhibit a nonlinear circular dichroism, i.e., a d ifference in the nonlinear absorption depending on the handedness of the li ght polarization. General expressions are given and it is shown that such a n effect should be measurable experimentally. [S0163-1829(99)02734-4].