Abstract

The photorefractive effect involves the spatial modulation of the refractive index of a material in response to an optically induced charge distribution. The materials in which this phenomenon were first found and then subsequently most often investigated are certain specialized inorganic nonlinear optical crystals. Following from the mechanistic understanding for grating formation in these inorganic crystals it has subsequently proved possible to design organic systems and endow them with photorefractive properties as well. A wide range of photorefractive organic systems are now known due to the intrinsic structural diversity of organic monomers and polymers and the ability to systematically control their composition, bulk morphology, and phase behavior. Some of the photorefractive properties of these organic materials now rival those of the best inorganic systems.

© 1998 Optical Society of America