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Nonlinear Optical Probes and Processes in Polymers and Liquid ...

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20<br />

refractive <strong>in</strong>dex △n is related to space charge field Esc by equation<br />

△n = − n3 re<br />

2 Esc (2.4)<br />

where re is the effective electro-optic coefficient. Another effect which leads to the<br />

refractive <strong>in</strong>dex field dependence <strong>in</strong> polymer composites is Kerr orientational effect<br />

(χ (3) ). This orientational effect called “orientational enhancement” is present <strong>in</strong> PR<br />

polymer composites <strong>in</strong> contrast to both <strong>in</strong>organic <strong>and</strong> organic crystals. The physical<br />

mechanism responsible for orientational enhancement is the orientation of NLO chro-<br />

mophores which are the necessary constituents of a PR polymer composite by the<br />

local spatially vary<strong>in</strong>g space charge field Esc. This effect will be considered <strong>in</strong> more<br />

detail later <strong>in</strong> Section 2.4.<br />

At this po<strong>in</strong>t, the spatially modulated <strong>in</strong>dex of refraction <strong>and</strong> thus, the diffraction<br />

grat<strong>in</strong>g, is created.<br />

Now, as the PR effect has been <strong>in</strong>troduced, it is time to consider experimental<br />

geometries under which it is observed.<br />

2.1.3 Experimental methods for photorefractive studies<br />

The two ma<strong>in</strong> experimental techniques used for study of the photorefractive perfor-<br />

mance of a material are two-beam coupl<strong>in</strong>g (2BC) <strong>and</strong> four-wave mix<strong>in</strong>g (FWM). In<br />

this section, we consider the physical grounds for both 2BC <strong>and</strong> FWM geometries to<br />

be employed as PR effect probes.

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