Abstract

Second-order nonlinear optical polymers (NLOPs) are excellent thin film active optical waveguiding materials.¹ Integration of NLOP films on silicon to form low cost photonic devices, using current manufacturing lines, requires optical stability to at least 250°C for several minutes, and more preferably to 350°C. One approach has been to dissolve stable chromophores in high temperature polyimides.² However, the addition of chromophores (20 to 30 percent) considerably lowers the glass transition temperature, and diffusion of the fugitive chromophores will cause long term stability problems. A second approach has been to crosslink a chromophore-polymer matrix.³ This approach can lead to unacceptably large optical losses due to scattering from density fluctuations trapped in the matrix during the crosslinking process. A third approach is the synthesis of amorphous mainchain thermoplastic NLOPs that have a high glass transition temperature (Tg) and a high chromophore concentration.⁴

© 1993 Optical Society of America