Nonlinear optical properties of organic materials

An additional class of nonlinear optical effects is that of multi-photon absorption processes. Using these process, one can create excited states (and, therefore, their associated physical and chemical properties) with a high degree of three-dimensional (3D) spatial confinement, at depth in absorbing media. There are potential applications of multi-photon absorbing materials in 3D fluorescence imaging, photodynamic therapy, nonlinear optical transmission and 3D microfabrication. 

This chapter gives an overview of the origin of NLO effects and focuses on the design of chromophores for two current applications of technological interest poled polymer materials for electrooptic switching and two-photon absorption. 

NLO effects arise from the interaction of light with loosely held electrons, typically, in the case of organic materials, those associated with conjugated Ji-systems. In the following section we examine the details of this interaction. 

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