Processing Of Novel Chromophores For Electro Optic Applications PDF Download

Our program involves development and applications of second-order optical materials which are also multifunctional, i.e., they exhibit more than one functionality and in some cases, new properties derived from a combination of more than one functionality . We specifically focused on applications in electro-optic modulation and photorefracitivity. Our effort has focused on developing electro-optic chromophores which offer extended transparency in the visible (to 633 nm), large r-coefficient, as well as high thermal and temporal stability of electrically poled alignment. Earlier we have developed an electro-optic chromophore, APSS, which was processed using an isocyanate containing liquid polymer to produce a thermally stable electrically poled polyurethane based electro-optic polymer. In order to further improve on optical losses in the visible range (633nm), enhance thermal stability and achieve a better control of the poling process, we have made chemical modifications and synthesized a related chromophore APSAS. This chromophore containing linkable four hydroxy sites, permits the usage of a smaller isocyanate, tolulene diisocyanate, with broader optical transparency, to produce rigid cross-linked polyurethane structures. In addition, we tested waveguide parameters of these chromophores. A waveguide modulator was fabricated using APSS to study processing optimization of this modulator. APSS and APSAS also exhibit multifunctionality: A strong two-photon absorption, photobleaching and up-converted emission. APSS exhibits photobleaching when illuminated with high peak power femtosecond pulse lasers. Utilizing this photobleaching 3D optical data storage was illustrated with a Buggs Bunny cartoon video in which each movie frame was stored in layers 5 microns apart. The two-photon exited photosensitization using APSS was also use for a new approach of two-photon photo.