title: Optical nonlinearity in the nematic phase of bent-core mesogens.
abstract: Nonlinear optical response of the cybotactic nematic phase of a bent-core mesogen has been investigated for the first time through self-phase modulation induced by a Gaussian beam. The material exhibits a high nonlinear response achieving a nonlinear index n(2)≈5×10(-5)  cm(2)/W and an unconventional behavior characterized by two different regimes. While the high-intensity regime can be easily explained in terms of a thermal indexing effect, the low-intensity regime is metastable and characterized by an unusual dependence on the irradiation energy. It is suggested that a change of the director configuration, possibly due to a light-induced modification of surface anchoring, is responsible for the observed behavior.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lucchetti
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vita
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Scharrer
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Francescangeli
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Simoni