Organic Molecules For Nonlinear Optics And Photonics

Photonics is being labelled by many as the technology for the 21st century. Because of the structural flexibility both at the molecular and bulk levels, organic materials are emerging as a very important class of nonlinear optical materials to be used for generating necessary nonlinear optical functions for the technology of photonics. Since the last NATO advanced research workshop on "Polymers for Nonlinear Optics"held in June 1988, at Nice - Sophia Antipolis, France. there has been a tremendous growth of interest worldwide and important development in this field. Significant progress has been made in theoretical modeling, material development, experimental studies and device concepts utilizing organic materials. These important recent developments provided the rationale for organizing the workshop on "Organic Materials for Nonlinear Optics and Photonics" which was held in La Rochelle, France, in August 1990. This proceeding is the outcome of the workshop held in La Rochelle. The objective of the workshop was to bring together scientists and engineers of varied backgrounds working in this field in order to assess the current status of this field by presenting significant recent developments and make recommendations on future directions of research. The workshop was multidisciplinary as it had contributions from chemists, physicists, materials scientists and device engineers. The participants were both from industries and universities. The workshop included plenary lectures by leading international scientists in this field, contributed research papers and a poster session. Panel discussion groups were organized to summarize important developments and to project future directions.

The field of nonlinear optics emerged three decades ago with the development of the first operating laser and the demonstration of frequency doubling phenomena. These milestone discoveries not only generated much interest in laser science, but also set the stage for future work on nonlinear optics. This book presents an excellent overview of the exciting new advances in nonlinear optical (NLO) materials and their applications in emerging photonics technologies. It is the first reference source available to cover every NLO material published through 1995. All theoretical approaches, measurement techniques, materials, technologies, and applications are covered. With more than 1,800 bibliographic citations, 324 figures, 218 tables, and 812 equations, this book is an invaluable reference source for graduate and undergraduate students, researchers, scientists and engineers working in academia and industries in chemistry, solid-state physics, materials science, optical and polymer engineering, and computational science.

This book presents an excellent overview of the exciting new advances in nonlinear optical (NLO) materials and their applications in emerging photonics technologies. It is the first reference source available to cover every NLO material published through 1995! All theoretical approaches, measurement techniques, materials, technologies, and applications are covered. With more than 1,800 bibliographic citations, 324 figures, 218 tables, and 812 equations, this book is an invaluable reference source for graduate and undergraduate students, researchers, scientists and engineers working in academia and industries in chemistry, solid-state physics, materials science, optical and polymer engineering, and computational science.

Photonics, the counterpart of electronics, involves the usage of Photons instead of electrons to process information and perform various switching operations. Photonics is projected to be the technology of the future because of the gain in speed, processing and interconnectivity of network. Nonlinear optical processes will play the key role in photonics Where they can be used for frequency conversion, optical switching and modulation. Organic molecules and polymers have emerged as a new class of highly promising nonlinear optical materials Which has captured the attention of scientists world wide. The organic systems offer the advantage of large nonresonant nonlinearities derived from the 1T electrons contribution, femtosecond response time and the flexibility to modify their molecular structures. In addition, organic polymers can easily be fabricated in various device structures compatible with the fiber-optics communication system. The area of nonlinear optics of organic molecules and polymers offers exciting opportunities for both fundamental research and technologic development. It is truly an interdisciplinary area. This proceeding is the outcome of the first NATO Advanced Research WOrkshop in this highly important area. The objective of the workshop was to provide a forum for scientists of varying background from both universities and industries to come together and interface their expertize. The scope of the workshop was multidisciplinary with active participations from Chemists, physicists, engineers and materials scientists from many countries.

Organic Nonlinear Optical Materials provides an extensive description of the preparation and characterization of organic materials for applications in nonlinear and electro-optics. The book discusses the fundamental optimization and practical limitations of a number of figures of merit for various optical parameters and gives a clinical appraisal of the potential of organic materials for applicators in optical technology. Among the topics addressed are the basic molecular design of ;nonlinear optical chromophores, fundamentals and novel techniques of organic crystal growth, preparation and characterization of Langmuir-Blodgett and polymer films, experimental methods for determining microscopic and macroscopic optical properties. Also included is a discussion of first results of the photorefractive effect in organic crystals and the potential of organics for photorefractive applications, as well as an extensive review of published linear and nonlinear optical measurement of organic materials.

Polyconjugated organic materials are revealing amorphous electrical and non-linear optical properties; this fact is opening up a whole new field of Materials Science aimed at the development of new technologies. For many years inorganic materials were studied mostly for non-linear optical properties. When organic molecules began to show larger and faster responses, both physical chemists and organic chemists became involved in understanding the physical phenomena at a molecular level, with the hope of synthesizing new and better molecular systems. The non-linear optical responses of this class of organic materials are presently attracting considerable attention as an active field of research both in academic and industrial laboratories. Due to the variety of problems and techniques involved, students and beginners with different backgrounds who approach polyconjugated materials do not find it an easy field to enter. This book introduces in a comprehensive and tutorial way the necessary concepts and relevant references which will help the reader to grasp the fundamental concepts of polyconjugated organic materials and perceive the relations between them.

This publication represents the proceedings of the Conference on Organic Materials for Non-Linear Optics, held in Oxford in June 1988. It was a truly international conference attended by over 160 delegates from academia, industry and government research establishments, who represented a wide range of scientific disciplines and included organic and organometallic chemists, theorists and experimental physicists and device engineers.

Nonlinear Optical Properties of Organic Molecules and Crystals, Volume 2 deals with the nonlinear optical properties of organic molecules and crystals, with emphasis on cubic nonlinear optical effects and and the intermolecular bond. Topics covered include the basic structural and electronic properties of polydiacetylenes; cubic effects in polydiacetylene solutions and films; and degenerate third-order nonlinear optical susceptibility of polydiacetylenes. Dimensionality effects and scaling laws in nonlinear optical susceptibilities are also considered. This volume is comprised of seven chapters divided into two sections and begins with a discussion on the basic structural and electronic properties of polydiacetylenes as well as their methods of preparation. Cubic nonlinearities in polydiacetylene solutions and films are then examined, paying particular attention to polarization in one-dimensional media; multiple reflections of fundamental and harmonic waves; and harmonic generation in an absorbing medium. The following chapters focus on degenerate third-order nonlinear optical susceptibility of polydiacetylenes; dimensionality effects and scaling laws in nonlinear optical susceptibilities; polarizabilities and hyperpolarizabilities of long molecules; and resonant molecular optics. The final chapter analyzes the nonlinear optics of a wide range of compounds that are held together by intermolecular bonding and form supramolecular assemblies. This monograph will be a useful resource for physicists, physical and organic chemists, and those in the field of quantum electronics.