An original poling method using purely optical means and based on a dual-frequency interference process is presented. We show that the coherent superposition of two beams at fundamental and second-harmonic frequencies results in a polar field with an irreducible rotational spectrum containing both a vector and an octupolar component. This enables the method to be applied even to molecules without a permanent dipole such as octupolar molecules. After a theoretical analysis of the process, we describe different experiments aiming at light-induced noncentrosymmetry performed respectively on one-dimensional Disperse Red 1 and octupolar Ethyl Violet molecules. Macroscopic octupolar patterning of the induced order is demonstrated in both transient and permanent regimes. Experimental results show good agreement with theory.
Temporal statistics of residual wavefront variance of an adaptive optics system
