THEORETICAL INVESTIGATION OF THREE-WAVE MIXING IN AN OPTICALLY ACTIVE MEDIUM

Abstract

A three-wave mixing experiment is considered in which intermediate Raman (CARS) or two-photon (CTPS) resonances may occur. The effects are studied which result from circular polarization of the incident light beams of frequencies $\omega$ and $\omega -\Delta$, in particular within a sample of randomly oriented optically active molecules. Contributions to the induced third-order electric polarization are derived which are of first order in the magnetic dipole and electric quadrupole interactions. The possibility is discussed of investigating Raman optical activity and two photon optical activity by measuring circular intensity differences (CID) and changes of polarization of the resulting beam of frequency $\omega+\Delta$. Analogous circular intensity difference effects are studied for experiments where the optical activity is induced by a strong static magnetic field applied parallel to one of the incident light beams.