Nonlinear polymers and devices

Optically nonlinear side chain polymers have been applied in passive and electro-optically active waveguiding structures operating in the visible and near infrared wavelength ranges. In order to possess second-order optically nonlinear effects, the polymers have been poled with electric fields on the order of 100 V/micrometers , and electro-optic coefficients of about 20 pm/V have been induced at the nonresonant wavelength of 1330 nm by this method. By successive spincoating of different polymers with adapted refractive indices, multilayer structures have been made possessing waveguiding properties. By applying the photobleaching method through a mask, local decrease of the refractive index is induced, resulting in monomode or multimode channel waveguides. Optically passive structures and active structures such as straight and bend waveguides, phase shifters, Mach-Zehnder interferometers, and directional mode couplers have thus been made. Switching and modulation voltages are on the order of 10 V, combined with modulation ratios on the order of 15 dB. The applied technology permits the integration of light sources with waveguides and may open the way for mass production of cost-effective optical components.