This paper demonstrates the second-order nonlinear hyperpolarisability γ of all-trans-β-carotene in different solvents by linear spectroscopic technique that is based on resonance Raman scattering and UV–VIS (Ultraviolet-visible) absorption spectroscopy. Owing to the two-level model well describing the link that exists between the resonance Raman scattering and stimulated Raman scattering, the stimulated Raman polarisability αR can be calculated through the two-photon resonance system. The value of γ of all-trans-β-carotene in carbon bisulfide solution is 6.435 × 10−33 esu (1 esu of resistance = 8.98755 × 1011 ω) that is close to the true value, because the solution of all-trans-β-carotene in carbon bisulfide satisfies the rigid resonance Raman scattering condition. This method is expected to be worthy of applications to measure the second-order nonlinear hyperpolarisability of a conjugate organic molecule.

Men Zhi-Wei(门志伟) a)b) , Fang Wen-Hui(房文汇) b) , Li Zuo-Wei(里佐威) b) , Qu Guan-Nan(曲冠男) b) , Gao Shu-Qin(高淑琴) b) , Lu Guo-Hui(陆国会) b) , Yang Jian-Ge(杨健戈) b)c) , and Sun Cheng-Lin(孙成林) a)b) †