Electro-optics in moderately doped thermopoled polymer waveguides

A range of measurements on the electro-optic properties of polar polymeric films is presented. The polar order is induced via thermopoling using either fixed contacts or corona charging. High doping concentrations (20% w/w) have been achieved where the nonlinear organic molecule DAN is dissolved into PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate) and polycarbonate. The electro-optic coefficient of poled films is dependent on the host polymer. Polycarbonate doped films have e-o coefficients up to 7 times those of PMMA doped materials. It is confirmed that polycarbonate may be poled when undoped and this may contribute to these observed effects. Poly 4-vinylpyridine also can be poled when undoped and has an inferred optical nonlinear coefficient higher than that of lithium niobate. Poling relaxation studies are shown for these materials and the efficiency of poling versus poling temperature shows a peak below the glass transition temperature in all cases.<
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