Abstract

Systematic studies of the third-order nonlinear optical properties of organic materials have led to the identification of several which have a large χ⁽³⁾. In many of these materials, nonlinear absorption, α₂, makes a substantial contribution to the nonlinear response. Some also possess a figure of merit, α₂/α₀ which makes them appealing for optical limiter applications.^1,2 Among these materials, a class of heavy metal substituted macrocycles, most notably PbPc(CP)₄, exhibited a wide dynamic range and the lowest thresholds for the onset of optical limiting. These materials are robust and photochemically stable in the solution phase. In this work the synthesis of similar phthalocyanines incorporated into the backbone of a urethane copolymer is reported. The nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of these copolymers have been measured and compared to the analogous materials in solution.

© 1993 Optical Society of America