Molecular Optics Nonlinear Optical Processes in Organic and Polymeric Crystals and Films. Part 1
Abstract
Optical bistability is a quantum optical realization of a first order phase transition far from equilibrium. A nonlinear optical material contained in an optical cavity driven resonantly by an external coherent optical field undergoes a first order phase transition to a new nonequilibrium stationary state of broken symmetry. Resonant and nonresonant nonlinear optical response of pi-electron excitations in conjugated electronic structure provides the nonlinearity essential to the onset of bistability. Electronic correlation effects in reduced dimensions are responsible for nonresonant nonlinear optical responses. Saturable absorption studies of glassy polymer films consisting of quasi-two dimensional conjugated disc-like structure of silicon naphthalocyanine demonstrate that on-resonance the system behaves as an optical Bloch system with an intensity dependent refractive index of 10 to the -4 power sq cm per kilowatt. Based on the results of these studies, electronic absorptive optical bistability is observed on a nanosecond time scale in a nonlinear Fabry-Perot interferometer employing the saturable absorbing silicon naphathalocyanine film as the nonlinear optical medium.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1991
- Accession Number
- ADA244898
Entities
People
- A. F. Garito
Organizations
- University of Pennsylvania