Nonlinear Optical Properties and Self-Kerr Effect of Rydberg Excitons in Cu$_2$O

Abstract

We show how to compute the nonlinear optical functions (absorption, reflection, and transmission) for a medium with Rydberg excitons, including the effect of the coherence between the electron-hole pair and the electromagnetic field. Using the Real Density Matrix Approach the analytical expressions for nonlinear optical functions are obtained and numerical calculations for Cu$_2$0 crystal are performed. We report a good agreement with recently published experimental data. Propagation of the electromagnetic waves in Rydberg excitons media with nonliner effect is also discussed and the possibility of obtainig self-phase modulation due to Kerr nonlinearity is investigated.