Abstract

A new incoherent Kerr shutter is demonstrated. It utilizes nanosecond optical pulses from an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) that has a broad bandwidth. Through the use of a β-BaB₂O₄ crystal, the OPO has a coherence time of 60–800 fs and shows wide wavelength tunability from 410 to 2600 nm. Kerr relaxation time constants for CS₂ and nitrobenzene are the same as those cited in previous works. We also show, for the first time to our knowledge, a 100-fs response for a nitrobenzene solution of 4-(N,N-diethylamino)-β-nitrostyrene at a 740-nm idler wavelength.

© 1996 Optical Society of America

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