Abstract

Because of their n-conjugated delocalized electrons, semiconducting polymers have large third-order susceptibilities χ⁽³⁾(ω; ωp,- ωp, ω), making them promising materials for nonlinear optical signal processing functions. Additionally, the large coupling between electronic excitations and backbone motions provide them with non radiative sub picosecond recovery times. However, in practical contexts, such as integrated optical nonlinear waveguides, knowledge of the wavelength dispersion and the phase of χ⁽³⁾ is essential. On the other hand, although relaxation processes determine the speed at which resonantly enhanced responses can switch, insight into relaxation pathways is necessary to improve the speed-efficiency trade-off of optical processors.

© 1991 Optical Society of America