New nonlinear intensity Kerr effect in the polar geometry

The problem of the electromagnetic wave reflection on the second optical harmonic from a semi-infinite optically isotropic magnetic medium is considered for the uniform magnetization direction corresponding to the polar Kerr effect. In the first approximation in magnetization, the method of Green's tensor functions is used to derive expressions for the complex amplitudes of the wave fields for the incidence of s- and p-polarized waves (as well as of their superposition) on the medium. It is shown that, in the latter case, the nonlinear polar Kerr effect is of the intensity type. The dependences of the intensity effect on the angle of incidence of the inducing wave and on the angle of its polarization, which were obtained in numerical experiments, are presented. A comparative analysis of the linear and nonlinear intensity Kerr effects is carried out. (C) 2000 MAIK "Nauka/Interperiodica".