Systematic Optimization of Second-Order Nonlinear Optical Materials.
Abstract
Molecules that exhibit exceptionally large molecular nonlinearities have been identified. One of the molecules, when incorporated into a polycarbonate yield after electric field poling, has an electro-optic coefficient nearly twice that of lithium niobate when measured at a standard telecommunication wavelength. The molecules were based upon a heterocyclic acceptor with two strong electron withdrawing groups. This acceptor was examined in detail and the various molecules were synthesized to systematically study how chromophores incorporating this acceptor could be stabilized and why the acceptor was so effective relative to other extremely strong acceptors that were examined in the past. In a parallel study, the use of diphenylaminothiophene as a donor for electro-optic materials was examined in some depth. This work was built upon work performed at IBM that demonstrated diphenylaminophenyl groups had improved thermal stability than dialkylamino phenyl groups. Given the understanding that in general compounds that contain amino thiophene groups as donors had higher nonlinearity than those containing aminophenyl groups, various diphenylamino thiophenes were synthesized and it was demonstrated that chromophores exhibiting high optical nonlinearities and excellent thermal stability could be synthesized in this manner.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 02, 1996
- Accession Number
- ADA316101
Entities
People
- Seth Marder
Organizations
- California Institute of Technology