Giant optical non-linearities of critical micro-emulsions

Abstract
Self-focusing of a cw laser beam in a micro-emulsion has been demonstrated and analysed. Giant optical non-linearities of this novel non-linear medium are reported. The non-linear index n2 deduced from the threshold power for self-focusing is found to increase divergently when approaching a critical point (n 2 ≳ 10-8 cm2 W-1). This divergence is related to the critical behaviour of the osmotic compressibility of the medium

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