Large third-order nonlinear optical properties of C70 fullerene in the infrared regime

The nonlinear third-order optical susceptibility of C₇₀ in a toluene solution is measured for the first time by the method of degenerate four-wave mixing using 10 ns laser pulses at 1.06 m. The third-order susceptibility X_in⁽³⁾is 5.6×10^–12 esu for a C₇₀ toluene solution at a concentration of 0.476 g/l. The correspondent magnitude of the hyperpolarizability ₁₁₁₁ of the C₇₀ molecule is 1.2×10^–30 esu which is in a good agreement with the prediction given by the model of a free electron in a spherical box.