Investigation of dynamics of Kerr liquids by time-resolved pump-probe system based on 4f nonlinear imaging technique with phase object

A newly developed method for the characterization of the optical nonlinearities and dynamics is applied to Kerr liquids. The time-resolved pump-probe system based on the 4f nonlinear imaging technique with phase object is used to obtain the diffraction pattern of the nonlinear filter induced in the liquid CS2 placed in the Fourier plane by a charge-coupled device at various delay times. A theory based on two-beam coupling in perpendicular linear polarizations is used to interpret the measurement results. Good agreement is obtained between theory and experiment, suggesting a new method for simultaneous measurements of both magnitude and sign of the intensity-dependent refractive index as well as the dynamics of the Kerr liquids. (C) 2009 Optical Society of America