Abstract

The performance of χ⁽²⁾ poled polymer nonlinear optical media is influenced by numerous intrinsic materials properties as well as the specific conditions of subsequent processing and use of the materials. The origins of microscopic optical nonlinearity have now become much better understood and some highly optimized nonlinear optical chromophores have been prepared. The processing to create polar thin polymer films containing these chromophores by application of an electric field is also now much better optimized. Once the polar order is created the influence of temperature (thermal history) on its magnitude has also been studied in great detail and much progress has been made on design of materials with enhanced temporal stability of poled order. In conjunction with this latter effort chromophores with enhanced thermal stability were identified to permit use of high glass transition temperature media.

© 1995 Optical Society of America