Hyperpolarizability, nonlinear optical

Polarizabilities and hyperpolarizabilities have been calculated with semi-empirical, ah initio, and DFT methods. The general conclusion from these studies is that a high level of theory is necessary to correctly predict nonlinear optical properties. 

There have been some attempts to compute nonlinear optical properties in solution. These studies have shown that very small variations in the solvent cavity can give very large deviations in the computed hyperpolarizability. The valence bond charge transfer (VB-CT) method created by Goddard and coworkers has had some success in reproducing solvent effect trends and polymer results (the VB-CT-S and VB-CTE forms, respectively). 

Frequency-dependent polarizability a and second hyperpolarizability y corresponding to various third-order nonlinear optical processes have been... 

Fig. 8. Examples of some of the donor-acceptor substituted TEEs prepared for the exploration of structure-property relationships in the second- and third-order nonlinear optical effects of fully two-dimensionally-conjugated chromophores. For all compounds, the second hyperpolarizability y [10 esu], measured by third harmonic generation experiments in CHCI3 solution at a laser frequency of either A = 1.9 or 2.1 (second value if shown) pm is given in parentheses. n.o. not obtained...

Acentricity greatly enhances the y-value (see 92 vs 91 and 90 or 101 vs 99 and 100, Fig. 8). Such a trend had been predicted for certain ranges of compounds by theory [137] however when the first hyperpolarizability, which determines second-order nonlinear optical properties, is maximized, y is predicted to be zero [138]. 

Some quinones, having the ability to form intra- and/or intermolecular hydrogen bonds, exhibit high molecular hyperpolarizability and are third-order nonlinear optical (NLO) materials. Compound 39 has a %(3) of 5 x 10 11 esu at 1.9 pm, and is a third-order NLO material.23 The optoelectric properties of quinoid compounds correlate with their structures in crystals or on thin films.23... 

The large molecular hyperpolarizability of the merocyanine chromophore (4,5) and the highly polar environment of the quasicrystals has prompted studies of the second order nonlinear optical properties of these materials (6). 

The nonlinear optical and dielectric properties of polymers find increasing use in devices, such as cladding and coatings for optical fibres, piezoelectric and optical fibre sensors, frequency doublers, and thin films for integrated optics applications. It is therefore important to understand the dielectric, optical and mechanical response of polymeric materials to optimize their usage. The parameters that are important to evaluate these properties of polymers are their dipole moment polarizability a, hyperpolarizabilities 0... 

The proportionality constants a and (> are the linear polarizability and the second-order polarizability (or first hyperpolarizability), and x(1) and x<2) are the first- and second-order susceptibility. The quadratic terms (> and x<2) are related by x(2) = (V/(P) and are responsible for second-order nonlinear optical (NLO) effects such as frequency doubling (or second-harmonic generation), frequency mixing, and the electro-optic effect (or Pockels effect). These effects are schematically illustrated in Figure 9.3. In the remainder of this chapter, we will primarily focus on the process of second-harmonic generation (SHG). 

The ethynyl-linked complexes 105 were prepared and explored as potential building blocks for nonlinear optical (NLO) materials.129 Spectroscopic and cyclic voltammetry data indicate a small but real interaction between the ferrocenyl donor group and the borabenzene unit, increasing in the order RuHyper-Rayleigh scattering revealed small values for the first hyperpolarizability / , which increases in the same order. 

Hyperpolarizabilities of molecules are an active field of study, because they determine a variety of important nonlinear optical effects. However, the deduction of hyperpolarizabilities from these nonlinear optical experiments is a very complicated business. The experiments are carried out at finite frequencies, so some extrapolation is required to obtain an estimate of the static (zero frequency) value. Also, there is a contribution to the hyperpolarizability from molecular vibrations, so even after extrapolation to zero frequency the experimental result may not correspond to what is desired. It is therefore very useful to study atoms, both theoretically and experimentally, since this vibrational contribution is necessarily absent. Calculations... 

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