Assessment of polymeric materials for second-harmonic generation and optoelectronic applications

Abstract

The current status of electric field poled polymeric materials for second harmonic generation (SHG) and optoelectronic devices is discussed. For SHG applications polymeric materials have still not significantly overcome the trade-off between high nonlinearity and absorption of the frequency doubled light. On the other hand, the nonlinear properties of polymeric systems appear to be large enough to consider the use of these materials in electrooptic devices such as amplitude modulators and switches. Here the problem is maintaining the poled orientational ordering of the chromophores within the polymer throughout the device fabrication process, which can involve brief excursions to high temperatures. An empirical relationship is described relating the decay of the poled order to the guest-host system's glass transition temperature. This relationship's extension to side chain polymer systems is also examined.