Nonlinear-optical studies of organic liquids and polymer optical fibers

We present the results of non-resonant optical Kerr effect measurements of the neat organic liquids nitrobenzene, carbon disulfide, carbon tetrachloride, and methyl-methacrylate. We also present the results of one-photon resonant optical Kerr effect measurements of solutions of the organic dyes indole squarylium and silicon-phthalocyanine:methylmethacrylate (separately) in carbon tetrachloride. Fits of the molecular third-order susceptibility theory to the one-photon resonant data indicate the presence of high-lying two-photon states for each of the dye molecules studied.; We also present results concerning light coupling in dye-doped dual-core polymer optical fibers. Measurements of the coupling length at low intensity are in agreement with linear coupling length calculations. Intensity-dependent coupling is observed as the intensity launched into the fiber is increased.