Abstract

Poling a polymeric film containing dopant chromophore molecules or side chain groups with high molecular hyperpolarizabilities (β) enables the preparation of films exhibiting large second order optical nonlinearity and second harmonic generation (SHG). A strong external electric field preferentially aligns dipolar chromophore groups along the field direction (designated as the x direction); thus the major component of the nonlinear susceptibility tensor responsible for SHG is ${\chi }_{xxx}^{\left(2\right)}$ · Other (weaker) nonzero components are ${\chi }_{xyy}^{\left(2\right)}={\chi }_{xzz}^{\left(2\right)}$ and ${\chi }_{yxy}^{\left(2\right)}={\chi }_{zxz}^{\left(2\right)}$. All other χ(²) components are zero.

© 1990 Optical Society of America