Giant increase of the second harmonic radiation's absorption during optical poling of oxide glass

A giant reversible growth (greater than or equal to 10(3) times) of the absorption of second harmonic radiation by optical poling of oxide glass was discovered. The observed absorption exerts an influence on the optical poling process and leads to a restriction of the maximum value of the photoinduced second harmonic generation in oxide glass. A theoretical model of the observed phenomenon is given. The growth of absorption is considered as a result of special anharmonic electron-phonon interactions caused by photoinduced electrostricted phonons. Exploration of the total absorption indicates that the effects of photodarkening do not play a key role in the observed phenomena.