Frequency doubling polymeric waveguide

Claim 2

A parametric frequency converting device which comprises a thin film waveguide of a polymeric medium which exhibits second order nonlinear optical response, and which has a periodic structure for quasi-phase matching of a propagating laser beam.

Claim 3

A nonlinear optical waveguide device for frequency doubling of a 700-l300 nm laser beam which comprises a thin film of a polymeric medium which exhibits second order nonlinear optical response, and which has a spatial periodic structure for quasi-phase matching of propagating wave energy, wherein the coherence length ℓ c of the periodic polymeric medium is defined by the equation: ℓ c = π Δβ where Δβ is the propagation constant difference which is equal to β₀(2ω l )-2β₀(ω l ), ω l is the fundamental frequency, and subscript zero denotes the zero-ordered mode in the waveguide.

Claim 4

A nonlinear optical waveguide device for frequency doubling of a 700-l300 nm laser beam which comprises a thin film of a polymeric medium which exhibits second order nonlinear optical response, and which has a spatial periodic structure for quasi-phase matching of propagating wave energy, wherein the coherence length ℓ c of the periodic polymeric medium is defined by the equation: ℓ c = π Δβ where Δβ is the propagation constant difference which is equal to β₀(2ω l )-2β₀(ω l ), ω l is the fundamental frequency, and subscript zero denotes the zero-ordered mode in the waveguide.

Claim 5

A nonlinear optical waveguide device for frequency doubling of a 700-l300 nm laser beam which comprises a thin film of a polymeric medium which exhibits second order nonlinear optical response, and which has a spatial periodic structure for quasi-phase matching of propagating wave energy; wherein the coherence length ℓ c of the periodic polymeric medium is defined by the equation: ℓ c = π Δβ where Δβ is the propagation constant difference which is equal to β₀(2ω l )-2β₀(ω l ), ω l is the fundamental frequency, and subscript zero denotes the zero-ordered mode in the waveguide; and wherein the polymeric medium comprises a polymer having side chains which exhibit second order nonlinear optical susceptibility and consist of at least 25 weight percent of the polymer, and the side chains have an external field-induced molecular orientation orthogonal to the waveguide plane.

Claim 6

A nonlinear optical waveguide device for frequency doubling of a 700-l300 nm laser beam which comprises a thin film of a polymeric medium which exhibits second order nonlinear optical response, and which has a spatial periodic structure for quasi-phase matching of propagating wave energy; wherein the coherence length ℓ c of the periodic polymeric medium is defined by the equation: ℓ c = π Δβ where Δβ is the propagation constant difference which is equal to β₀(2ω l )-2β₀(ω l ), ω l is the fundamental frequency, and subscript zero denotes the zero-ordered mode in the waveguide; and wherein the polymeric medium comprises a polymer having side chains which exhibit second order nonlinear optical susceptibility and consist of at least 25 weight percent of the polymer, and the side chains have an external field-induced molecular orientation orthogonal to the waveguide plane.

Claim 7

A waveguide device in accordance with claim 3 wherein the polymeric thin film is coated on a support substrate.

Claim 8

A waveguide device in accordance with claim 3 wherein the polymeric thin film comprises a thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer having a comb structure of mesogenic side chains, and having a glass transition temperature above about 40°C.

Claim 9

A waveguide device in accordance with claim 3 wherein the polymeric thin film comprises a polymer with a main chain polyvinyl structure.

Claim 10

A waveguide device in accordance with claim 3 wherein the polymeric thin film comprises a polymer with a main chain polysiloxane structure.

Claim 11

A waveguide device in accordance with claim 3 wherein the polymeric thin film comprises a polymer with a main chain polyoxyalkylene structure.

Claim 12

A waveguide device in accordance with claim 3 wherein the polymeric thin film comprises a polymer with a main chain polyester or polyamide structure.

Claim 13

l0. A waveguide device in accordance with claim 3 wherein the polymeric thin film comprises a polymer which is characterized by a recurring monomeric unit corresponding to the formula: where P′ is a polymer main chain unit, S′ is a flexible spacer group having a linear chain length of between about 0-20 atoms, M′ is a pendant group which exhibits second order nonlinear optical susceptibility, and where the pendant side chains consist of at least about 25 weight percent of the polymer, and the polymer has a glass transition temperature above about 40°C.

Claim 14

A waveguide device in accordance with claim l0 wherein the M′ group contains a biphenyl structure.

Claim 15

A waveguide device in accordance with claim l0 wherein the M′ group contains a stilbene structure.

Claim 16

A frequency converting module for producing a short wavelength laser beam which comprises: a. a 700-l300 nm laser generating source, in coupled combination with b. an optical waveguide comprising a substrate-supported than film of a polymeric medium which exhibits second order nonlinear optical response, and which has a spatial periodic structure for quasi-phase matching of propagating wave energy; wherein the coherence length ℓ c of the periodic polymeric medium is defined by the equation: ℓ c = π Δβ where Δβ is the propagation constant difference which is equal to a β₀(2ω l )-2β₀(ω l ), ω l is the fundamental frequency, and subscript zero denotes the zero-ordered mode in the waveguide; and wherein the polyneric medium comprises a polymer having side chains which exhibit second order nonlinear optical susceptibility and consist of at least 25 weight percent of the polymer, and the side chains have an external field-induced molecular orientation orthogonal to the waveguide plane.

Claim 17

A frequency converting module for producing a short wavelength laser beam which comprises: a. a 700-l300 nm laser generating source, in coupled combination with b. an optical waveguide comprising a substrate-supported than film of a polymeric medium which exhibits second order nonlinear optical response, and which has a spatial periodic structure for quasi-phase matching of propagating wave energy; wherein the coherence length ℓ c of the periodic polymeric medium is defined by the equation: ℓ c = π Δβ where Δβ is the propagation constant difference which is equal to a β₀(2ω l )-2β₀(ω l ), ω l is the fundamental frequency, and subscript zero denotes the zero-ordered mode in the waveguide; and wherein the polyneric medium comprises a polymer having side chains which exhibit second order nonlinear optical susceptibility and consist of at least 25 weight percent of the polymer, and the side chains have an external field-induced molecular orientation orthogonal to the waveguide plane.

Claim 18

A frequency converting module in accordance with claim l3 wherein the optical waveguide component has a two-dimensional channel structure for single mode wave transmission.

Claim 19

A process for providing a short wavelength laser source which comprises (l) introducing a 700-l300 nm laser beam into an optical waveguide comprising a substrate-supported thin film of a polymeric medium which exhibits second order nonlinear optical response, and which has a spatial periodic structure for quasi-phase matching of propagating wave energy; wherein the coherence length ℓ c of the periodic polymeric medium is defined by the equation: ℓ c = π Δβ where Δβ is the propagation constant difference which is equal to β₀(2ω l )-2β₀(ω l ), ω l is the fundamental frequency, and subscript zero denotes the zero-ordered mode in the waveguide; and wherein the polymeric medium comprises a polymer having side chains which exhibit second order nonlinear optical susceptibility and consist of at least 25 weight percent of the polymer, and the side chains have an external field-induced molecular orientation orthogonal to the waveguide plane; and (2) doubling the frequency of the propagating wave energy to provide an output 350-650 nm laser beam.

Claim 20

A process for providing a short wavelength laser source which comprises (l) introducing a 700-l300 nm laser beam into an optical waveguide comprising a substrate-supported thin film of a polymeric medium which exhibits second order nonlinear optical response, and which has a spatial periodic structure for quasi-phase matching of propagating wave energy; wherein the coherence length ℓ c of the periodic polymeric medium is defined by the equation: ℓ c = π Δβ where Δβ is the propagation constant difference which is equal to β₀(2ω l )-2β₀(ω l ), ω l is the fundamental frequency, and subscript zero denotes the zero-ordered mode in the waveguide; and wherein the polymeric medium comprises a polymer having side chains which exhibit second order nonlinear optical susceptibility and consist of at least 25 weight percent of the polymer, and the side chains have an external field-induced molecular orientation orthogonal to the waveguide plane; and (2) doubling the frequency of the propagating wave energy to provide an output 350-650 nm laser beam.

Claim 21

A process in accordance with claim l5 wherein the input laser beam is in a transverse magnetic (TM) polarization mode.

Claim 22

A process in accordance with claim l5 wherein the input laser beam power is between about 0.l-l watt, and the output laser beam power is at least about one milliwatt.

Claim 23

A process in accordance with claim l5 wherein the propagating mode of the input wave energy is zero-ordered.

Claim 24

A process in accordance with claim l5 wherein the waveguide polymeric thin film exhibits a second order nonlinear optical susceptibility χ (2) of at least about l x l0⁻⁸ esu.

Claim 25

A process in accordance with claim l5 wherein the waveguide polymeric thin film comprises a polymer which is characterized by a recurring monomeric unit corresponding to the formula: where P′ is a polymer main chain unit, S′ is a flexible spacer group having a linear chain length of between about 0-20 atoms, M′ is a pendant group which exhibits second order nonlinear optical susceptibility, and where the pendant side chains consist of at least about 25 weight percent of the polymer, and the polymer has a glass transition temperature above about 40°C.

Claim 26

2l. A process in accordance with claim 20 wherein the M′ group contains a biphenyl structure.

Claim 27

A process in accordance with claim 20 wherein the M′ group contains a stilbene structure.

Claim 28

A process in accordance with claim l5 wherein the waveguide polymeric thin film comprises a polymer which is characterized by a recurring monomeric unit corresponding to the formula: where m is an integer of at least 5; n is an integer between about 4-20; X is -NR-, -O- or -S-; R is hydrogen or a C l -C₄ alkyl; and Z is -NO₂, -CN or -CF₃.

Claim 29

A process in accordance with claim 23 wherein the polymer exhibits liquid crystalline properties.