Nonlinear second-order properties

Nonlinear second order optical properties such as second harmonic generation and the linear electrooptic effect arise from the first non-linear term in the constitutive relation for the polarization P(t) of a medium in an applied electric field E(t) = E cos ot. 

The most significant symmetry property for the second-order nonlinear optics is inversion synnnetry. A material possessing inversion synnnetry (or centrosymmetry) is one that, for an appropriate origin, remains unchanged when all spatial coordinates are inverted via / —> - r. For such materials, the second-order nonlmear response vanishes. This fact is of sufficient importance that we shall explain its origm briefly. For a... 

In order to describe the second-order nonlinear response from the interface of two centrosynnnetric media, the material system may be divided into tlnee regions the interface and the two bulk media. The interface is defined to be the transitional zone where the material properties—such as the electronic structure or molecular orientation of adsorbates—or the electromagnetic fields differ appreciably from the two bulk media. For most systems, this region occurs over a length scale of only a few Angstroms. With respect to the optical radiation, we can thus treat the nonlinearity of the interface as localized to a sheet of polarization. Fonnally, we can describe this sheet by a nonlinear dipole moment per unit area, -P ", which is related to a second-order bulk polarization by hy P - lx, y,r) = y. Flere z is the surface nonnal direction, and the... 

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]. 

These structure-function relationships provide extremely useful guidance for the future rational design of molecules and polymers with even higher optical nonlinearities. For non-centrosymmetric molecules such as 95, very high first hyperpolarizabilities /3 that determine the second-order nonfinear optical properties were also measured [140]. 

Bella SD (2001) Second-order nonlinear optical properties of transition metal complexes. Chem Soc Rev 30 355-366... 

A synthesis and physicochemical characterization, including molecular second-order nonlinear optical properties, of new push-pull-based chromophores 170 properly functionalized for polymerization and containing oxadiazole rings were reported <2002J(P2)1791>. 

A specific set of experiments which must be mentioned, being directly associated with the main topic of this paper, is the work of Bergman, et. al. (22) dealing with the second-order nonlinear optical properties of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVF2). Nonvanishing the second-order nonlinear electric dipole susceptibility, is expected in PVF2 since it exhibits other properties requiring noncentrosymmetric microscopic structure. These properties appear... 

A novel second-order nonlinear optical medium which should offer considerable fabrication flexibility has been described. The physics of alignment of the highly nonlinearly polarizable moiety was discussed. However, observation of complex dynamical and thermal behavior indicates that an important role is played by the polymer liquid crystalline host. Additional properties of modified members of this family of lc polymers were consequently investigated. The explanations of guest alignment stabilization and thermal dependence of the alignability remain unresolved issues. 

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). 

Any symmetry operation is required to leave the sign and magnitude of physical properties unchanged and therefore y xxx = 0. The same line of reasoning can be used to show that all tensor components will vanish under inversion. Hence, second-order nonlinear optical properties are not allowed in centrosymmetric media using the electric dipole approximation. The presence of noncentrosymmetry is one of the most stringent requirements in... 

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