Second-harmonic generation with partially poled polymers

The poling of polymers leads in general to inhomogeneous polarization distributions within the polymer film. These polarization distributions affect any nonlinear-optic experiment based on second-order nonlinearities. Second-harmonic generation measurements are presented for a partially poled ferroelectric polyvinylidene fluoride film. By partial poling, we mean that the film is polarized only within a part of the film thickness. The measured angle-dependent second-harmonic signal is explained only if the polarization distribution as measured by the piezoelectric pressure pulse technique is taken into account.