We study the nonlinear optical response of an electromagnetically aligned shaped-microparticle suspension, and focus on the physical characteristics of static, microparticle index gratings. Theory suggests that the physical properties of shaped-microparticle index gratings can be considerably altered by aligning the suspension with either an electric field or polarized radiation. Specifically, the medium response times are reduced, the grating polarization characteristics are altered, and depending upon the specific situation, the index grating depth can be either increased or decreased.

• Received 7 December 1990

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.43.4965