Photorefractive Polysilanes Functionalized with a Nonlinear Optical Chromophore

We have prepared various polysilane copolymers that were functionalized with the nonlinear optical chromophore N -methyl- p -nitroaniline. The glass transition temperature of the polysilanes was adjusted to room temperature by copolymerization of methylphenyldichlorosilane and n -hexylmethyldichlorosilane. Asymmetric two-beam coupling was observed at 633 nm, and a gain coefficient of 18 cm -1 was measured at an externally applied field of 48 V μm -1 .