Nonlinear optical properties of semiconductor nanocrystals: theory and experiments

The third-order nonlinearities of various semiconductor nanocrystals have been investigated both theoretically and experimentally. The theoretical calculations have been done by using density matrix method and the experimental measurements have been fulfilled using time-resolved four-wave mixing, Z-scan, and I-scan methods under different experimental conditions. The experimental data have been compared to the theoretical calculations and the physical origins of the third-order nonlinearities of the semiconductor nanocrystals have been discussed. The possible nonlinear photonic device applications of these materials have been suggested.