In spite of the fact that inversion is a symmetry operation of both the cry
stalline and the magnetic lattice of NiO, second harmonic generation (SHG)
has been observed below the Neel temperature. A spectroscopic study shows t
hat the signal is due to combined magnetic-dipole and electric-dipole trans
itions between the (3d)(8) levels of the Ni2+ ion in the crystal field. The
SHG is resonant in both the incoming and the outgoing light waves and thus
greatly enhanced. A quadratic coupling of the nonlinear polarization to th
e order parameter was found. This allows the investigation of individual do
mains.