Yung, Man Fai. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references. / Yung, Man Fai. / Acknowledgements --- p.iii / Abstract --- p.iv / Preface --- p.vi / Contents --- p.vii / List of Figures --- p.x / List of Tables --- p.xii / Chapter Chapter 1. --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Physical Origin of Optical Nonlinearity --- p.3 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Mathematical Description --- p.3 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Anharmonic Oscillator Model --- p.4 / Chapter 1.2 --- Nonlinear Optical Susceptibility --- p.4 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Molecular Hyperpolarizability --- p.4 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Macroscopic Nonlinear Susceptibility --- p.5 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Kleinman Conjecture --- p.6 / Chapter 1.3 --- Third-Order Nonlinear Optical Process --- p.7 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Intensity Dependent Refractive Index --- p.7 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Physical Mechanisms --- p.8 / Chapter 1.3.3 --- Tensor Nature of Third-Order Susceptibility x(3) --- p.10 / Chapter 1.3.4 --- Conventions for Nonlinear Susceptibility --- p.11 / References --- p.12 / Chapter Chapter 2. --- Optical Kerr Effect --- p.13 / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.13 / Chapter 2.2 --- Theoretical Background --- p.14 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Pump-Probe Technique --- p.14 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Description of Induced Birefringence --- p.15 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Signal Transmitted through OKE --- p.17 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Resonant OKE --- p.18 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- Third-Order Autocorrelation --- p.19 / Chapter 2.3 --- Applications --- p.20 / References --- p.21 / Tables --- p.23 / Figure Captions --- p.24 / Chapter Chapter 3. --- Nonlinear Optical Properties of Fullerenes --- p.26 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.26 / Chapter 3.2 --- Second Harmonic Generation --- p.27 / Chapter 3.3 --- Third-Order Effects --- p.28 / Chapter 3.4 --- Reverse Saturable Absorption and Optical Limiting --- p.29 / References --- p.32 / Figure Captions --- p.34 / Chapter Chapter 4. --- Excited State Enhancement --- p.38 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.38 / Chapter 4.2 --- Origin and Properties of Excited State Enhancement --- p.39 / Chapter 4.3 --- Experimental Demonstrations --- p.42 / References --- p.44 / Chapter Chapter 5. --- Experimental Setup --- p.46 / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.46 / Chapter 5.2 --- Laser System --- p.46 / Chapter 5.3 --- Optical Layout --- p.48 / Chapter 5.4 --- Sample Preparation --- p.50 / Chapter 5.5 --- Detection System --- p.51 / Chapter 5.6 --- Third-Order Autocorrelation Measurement --- p.52 / Chapter 5.7 --- Optical Limiting Measurement --- p.53 / Chapter 5.8 --- Excited State Enhancement Measurement --- p.54 / References --- p.56 / Figure Captions --- p.57 / Chapter Chapter 6. --- Results and Discussion --- p.69 / Chapter 6.1 --- Introduction --- p.69 / Chapter 6.2 --- Results of Pure Liquids --- p.69 / Chapter 6.2.1 --- Carbon Disulfide (CS2) --- p.69 / Chapter 6.2.2 --- Toluene --- p.71 / Chapter 6.2.3 --- Nitrobenzene --- p.71 / Chapter 6.3 --- Third-Order Autocorrelation of CS2 --- p.74 / Chapter 6.4 --- Results of Fullerenes C60 and C70 --- p.75 / Chapter 6.5 --- Optical Limiting of C60 --- p.78 / Chapter 6.6 --- Excited State Enhancement of Fullerenes --- p.79 / References --- p.82 / Tables --- p.85 / Figure Captions --- p.90 / Chapter Chapter 7. --- Conclusion --- p.108