Mārtiņš Rutkis

New Figure of Merit for Tailoring Optimal Structure of the Second Order NLO Chromophore for Guest-Host Polymers

Reliability to forecast SHG efficiency using two sets of non linear optical (NLO) chromophore figures of merit (FOM) was tested. One of them predicts that SHG efficiency d 33 of the poled guest-host polymer is proportional to ground state dipole ∼ μg, another to ∼ 1/μg. Correlation of maximal achieved second order NLO efficiency of the PMMA based systems containing eight dimethylaminobenzylidene-1, 3-indandione (DMABI) related chromophores with proposed FOM have been analyzed. The best correlations were obtained with second set of FOM, especially if high dipole moment (μg > 7D) chromophores are included in analysis.

Nonlinear optical properties of low molecular organic glasses formed by triphenyl modified chromophores

The series of organic molecular glasses have been studied as possible candidates for nonlinear optical (NLO) applications. Amorphous phase formation of investigated materials is ensured by the presence of bulky triphenyl substituents in molecular structure of NLO chromophores. Linear optical properties as well as NLO coefficients and thermal stability of NLO activity for the 13 molecular materials in glassy thin solid films have been determined. For the benzylidene-1,3-indandione chromophore containing compound the highest d33 value equal to 280 pm/V was measured under the 1064 nm excitation. Among the investigated compounds uppermost achieved thermal sustainability of NLO response was 108 °C. The relationship between number of triphenyl substituents and increased thermal sustainability of nonlinear response was observed.

Optical propagation loss measurements in electro optical host-guest waveguides

Thin organic waveguiding layers are applied more and more frequently as optical components in novel optoelectronic devices. For development of such devices it is important to know the optical properties of the used waveguides. One of the most important parameters is optical propagation loss in the waveguide. In this paper we present optical propagation loss measurements in planar electro optical waveguides using travelling fiber method. Using this method attenuation coefficient α at 633 nm as a function of chromophore concentration for the first two guiding modes in the slab waveguide was determined.

Toward device applicable second order NLO polymer materials: definition of the chromophore figure of merit

Maximal achieved second order non linear optical (NLO) efficiency of the PMMA based host – guest systems containing eight dimethylaminobenzylidene -1, 3 - indandione (DMABI) related chromophores have been analysed. Two contradicting sets of NLO chromophore figure of merit (FOM) equations were tested. One of them predicts that NLO efficiency of the poled polymer host -guest film is proportional to ground state dipole d33 ~ 1/μg, another to d33 ~ 1/μg. The best correlations for the maximal achieved nonlinearity were obtained with second set of FOM, especially if high ground state dipole (μg > 7D) chromofores are included in analysis.