VARIABLE STIMULATED BRILLOUIN-SCATTERING PULSE COMPRESSOR FOR NONLINEAR-OPTICAL MEASUREMENTS

We have developed and characterized a novel method of measuring the tr ansient response of third-order optical nonlinearities using degenerat e four-wave mixing and a phase-conjugated laser system. Variable compr ession of laser pulses allows selective probing of a material for ther mal effects and faster nonlinearities such as electronic or reorientat ional effects. We confirm the utility of the system by demonstrating t ime-scale-dependent nonlinear optical behavior in an organometallic li quid crystal. (C) 1997 Optical Society of America.