Light-induced dichroism and birefringence in dye-doped glycerin

• Published in: Europhysics letters 2003-06, Vol.62 (5), p.698-704
• Main Authors: Jánossy, I, Benkler, E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 42.70.-a; 42.70.Gi; 78.20.-e; Birefringence; Birefringence (including stress birefringence, flow birefringence, etc.); Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Exact sciences and technology; Optical properties and condensed-matter spectroscopy and other interactions of matter with particles and radiation; Optical properties of bulk materials and thin films; Physics
• ISSN: 0295-5075; 1286-4854
• DOI: 10.1209/epl/i2003-00429-5

In this paper cw laser-induced dichroism and birefringence measurements are reported in azo-dye–doped glycerin at temperatures below -40 $\un{{}^\circ C}$. The presence of the dye, in combination with the slow rotational mobility of the molecules, leads to a huge enhancement of the optical Kerr effect, compared to what is observed in pure transparent liquids. In the experiments, significant optical anisotropy could be generated at pump intensities as low as 10$\un{mW/mm^{2}}$. Evidence is presented that the birefringence signal originates in a large part from the ordering of the host molecules. The orientational order of the solvent molecules is attributed to the guest-host interaction between the azo dye and the glycerin molecules.