Theory, calculation and observation of nonlinear optical activity in chiral molecules

Abstract

Since the late 1960s theories have appeared which address nonlinear optical activity, that is, optical rotation and circular dichroism effects which depend on the intensity of the light incident on the sample. Only recently have there been efforts based on these theories to compute the relevant molecular parameters and experimental attempts to measure the predicted phenomena. This Report reviews the field with emphasis on progress made in the last ten years for isotropic media.