Second-order nonlinear optical measurements in guest-host and side-chain polymers

The second harmonic generation (SHG) coefficients dij of several corona-poled guest-host and side-chain polymers have been measured and studied over time using a new Maker Fringe analysis. The electro-optic coefficient r33 and scattering losses have also been measured in thin-film waveguides, on silicon and glass substrates, made from some of the polymers. Kleinman symmetry (d15=d31) was not valid for near-resonant SHG in these materials and d15/d31 was determined. Stable values of d33, for a fundamental of 1.064 μm, were as high as 40 pm/V for one of the side-chain polymers. Optical waveguide losses determined from scattering measurements were as low as 0.4 dB/cm at 1.06 μm.