NONLINEAR OPTICAL-PROPERTIES OF GLASSES AND GLASS-BASED OR GEL-BASED COMPOSITES

In glasses, the largest observed value of nonlinear refractive index n//2 is currently about 0. 1 multiplied by 10 ** minus **1**1 esu. Changes in n//2 are dependent on the third-order electronic polarization, which can be estimated from the linear electronic polarizability or from the refractive index and Abbe number. Theoretical calculations of n//2 have been made for some glasses with potentially high nonlinear refractive indexes. Glasses are likewise useful for the matrix of some organic compounds and semiconductors with high optical nonlinearity.