Organic salts with large electro-optic coefficients

Abstract

Single crystals of the organic salt 4'-dimethylamino-N-methyl-4-stilbazolium tosylate (DAST) are shown to exhibit large second harmonic generation and electro-optic coefficients. Maker fringe second harmonic generation measurements at 1907 nm give d11 equals 600 +/- 200 pm/V and electro-optic modulation measurements at 820 nm give r11 equals 400 +/- 150 pm/V. These initial results as well as preliminary results on the refractive indices, dielectric constants, transparency, and thermal stability of DAST suggest that it and related organic salts are promising materials for electro-optic device applications.