Nonlinear optical properties of fullerenes

• Published in: Synthetic metals Vol. 77; no. 1; pp. 257 - 263
• Main Authors: Kajzar, F., Taliani, C., Zamboni, R., Rossini, S., Danieli, R.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 01.02.1996; Amsterdam Elsevier Science; New York, NY
• Subjects: Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Exact sciences and technology; Frequency conversion ; harmonic generation, including high-order harmonic generation; Fullerene; Fullerenes and related materials; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Harmonic generation, frequency conversion; Nonlinear optics; Optical properties; Optical properties and condensed-matter spectroscopy and other interactions of matter with particles and radiation; Optical properties of specific thin films; Optics; Physics; Fullerene; Optical properties; Thin films; Second harmonic generation; Reviews; Breakdown; Fullerenes; Two phonon process; Three-level systems; Third harmonic generation; Optical susceptibility
• ISSN: 0379-6779; 1879-3290
• DOI: 10.1016/0379-6779(96)80099-3

Nonlinear optical properties of fullerenes, studied by transverse second-harmonic and wave-dispersed third-harmonic generation, are reviewed and discussed. The origin of second-harmonic generation in C 60, as well as its absence, at the limit of dielectric breakdown in C 70 thin films is also discussed. The observed third-harmonic generation χ (3) susceptibility dispersion in both lower fullerenes C 60 and C 70 is described in terms of the three-level model. In both molecules the two-photon level is found to lie below the one-photon transition level, in good agreement with theoretical calculations and other experimental determinations.