Thin Film Processing Of Polymers For Nonlinear Optics

A number of organic materials have been observed to possess large nonlinear optical susceptibilities. The potential applicability to integrated optics is substantial owing to both microscopic and bulk properties of organic and polymeric materials, including potentially fast switching times. Fabrication flexibility and the tailoring of optical properties via material engineering are but two of the advantages of using organic materials. Special requirements of guided-wave nonlinear optic devices include high optical quality, low dielectric constant, and a reproducible fabrication technology. Polymer glasses have been shown in several contexts to possess these properties. In addition, we have recently demonstrated the fabrication of nonlinear optic polymer glasses through the introduction of nonlinear optical molecular dopants oriented by electric-field poling techniques. Polymer glasses are discussed in the context of the requirements of integrated optics. Recent results in the characterization and processing of these materials for use in guided-wave integrated optical devices is also discussed.