Third order nonlinear optical properties of azomethine derivatives

Thermotropic liquid crystals of azomethine derivatives were synthesized and characterized using various spectroscopic methods. The nonlinear optical properties of these liquid crystals were studied using z-scan technique with 7 ns pulse duration at 532 nm. The nonlinear refractive index, n2 and the third order nonlinear susceptibility, χ(3) are measured to be of the order of 10−17 m2/W and 10−13 esu, respectively. Reverse saturable absorption (RSA) was identified as the main mechanism responsible for optical limiting.