Observation of Coherent Transient Birefringence in CS2Vapor

Abstract

We have observed short-duration birefringence in C${\mathrm{S}}_2$ vapor 38 and 76 psec after excitation with a mode-locked (∼ 5 psec duration) 1.06-μm glass: ${\mathrm{Nd}}^{3+}$ laser pulse. These bursts are attributed to the time evolution of a coherent sum of rotational superposition states.