Abstract

Photorefractive (PR) materials have potential applications in image processing, pattern recognition, high density data storage and phase conjugation,¹ Inorganic PR materials have an inherent limitation because high second-order susceptibilities originating from high ionic polarizabilities always go along with high dielectric constants. In organic PR materials, high EO activities are usually not accompanied by large dielectric constants. This results in a figure of merit that can be much higher than for inorganics. Furthermore, in polymeric systems the physical properties can be optimized more or less independently from each other by varying the different chemical functionalities. Finally, polymer materials are easily processible at low cost.

© 1994 Optical Society of America