Nonlinear optical probes of conjugated polymers

Abstract

Nonlinear optical properties of conjugated polymers can be measured using various techniques, including third-harmonic generation, two-photon absorption, nonlinear grating coupling and interferometry. These methods will be compared with regard to their suitability for obtaining specific parameters. We illustrate the application of these techniques to the study of π-conjugated polymeric systems, such as poly(4-BCMU), poly(3-decylthiophene) and 4-dialkylamino-4′-nitrostilbene (DANS) side-chain polymer, all of them regarded as candidates for the realization of all-optical switching devices, and outline relevance and limits of each technique.