Time-dependent Nonlinear Optical Susceptibility of an Out-of-Equilibrium Soft Material

TL;DR

This study explores how the nonlinear optical response of a clay-dye dispersion evolves over time, revealing insights into the aging process and the decoupling of diffusion timescales in out-of-equilibrium soft materials.

Contribution

It demonstrates the use of nonlinear optical measurements to probe the late-stage arrest dynamics in soft materials, highlighting the decoupling of diffusion times at different scales.

Findings

Decoupling of diffusion times during aging

Nonlinear optics can probe late-stage arrest in soft materials

Characteristic nonlinear susceptibility build-up time measured

Abstract

We investigate the time-dependent nonlinear optical absorption of a clay dispersion (Laponite) in organic dye (Rhodamine B) water solution displaying liquid-arrested state transition. Specifically, we determine the characteristic time $\tau_D$ of the nonlinear susceptibility build-up due as to the Soret effect. By comparing $\tau_D$ with the relaxation time provided by standard dynamic light scattering measurements we report on the decoupling of the two collective diffusion times at the two very different length scales during the aging of the out-of-equilibrium system. With this demonstration experiment we also show the potentiality of nonlinear optics measurements in the study of the late stage of arrest in soft materials.