Guest-Host Polymers for Nonlinear Optics

Abstract

Abstract Much recent interest in second-order nonlinear optical materials and devices has focussed on poled polymer films, which derives mainly from their large nonlinear optical coefficients, ease of fabrication, and high optical quality. Progress has been rapid in producing stable, efficient materials, and in building demonstration devices. The second-order nonlinear optical properties arise from the orientational order induced in a collection of highly nonlinear molecules incorporated in a glassy polymer matrix. In this paper, the physics of alignment is presented, as well as progress in the development of new polymeric materials. Electro-optic devices have been fabricated and tested confirming the promise of polymeric nonlinear optical materials. An approach to phase-matched second harmonic generation which is highly compatible with molecular-polymer materials based on anomalous dispersion in nonlinear optical molecules is also presented.