Nonlinear optical chromophores Waveguides

A polymer containing the nonlinear optical chromophore trans-2,2 -formyl-3,3, -4,4 -tetrabutoxyvinylthiophene was prepared and proved is effective as a waveguide. 

Tomonari, M., Ookubo, N. and Takada, T. (1997). Chem. Phys. Lett. 266, 488 IWieg, R. J. and Dirk, C. W. (1996). Design, properties and applications of nonlinear optical chromophores. In Science and Technology of Organic Thin Films for Waveguiding Nonlinear Optics (eds F. Kajzar and J. Swalen), Gordon and Breach, Amsterdam, p. 45... 

Keywords. Electro-optic chromophores, Polymers, Waveguides, Quadratic nonlinearities, Phase-matching... 

Liquid crystalline polyesters with 3-methylphthalimide and chromophore side chains, having good orientation stability and mechanical properties, were claimed for making nonlinear optical devices like filters, polarisers, waveguides and others [274]. 

The poled polymer approach is state-of-the-art in terms of the application of polymers to electro-optic devices such as modulators and waveguides. Chromophore-bound polymers for second-order nonlinear optical applications with glass transition temperatures greater than 320°C have been reported (5). However, the electro-optic coefficients are modest, typically less than 10 pm/V at 1.3 im. Part of the poling problem is caused by electrical conductivity at high poling temperatures, which reduces the poling field, or worse, sometimes causes dielectric breakdown. 

In this chapter we will shortly summarize the nonlinear optical properties of macromolecular systems and some of the main experimental techniques for their optical characterization. Some basic optoelectronic patterns will be reported in order to give a brief account of the advances in the realization of active waveguide systems and telecommunication devices based on organic materials. The main optoelectronic devices based on nonlinear optical properties of chromophores in polymeric and hybrid matrices will be illustrated. In particular Mach-Zehnder modulators, microring resonators, switches and wavelength filters will be reviewed. 

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