Copolymeric nonlinear optical media

Claim 2

A nonlinear optical medium comprising a transparent thermoplastic polymer film characterized by a crystallographic molecular alignment in the film plane, and a net dipolar molecular orientation normal to the film plane, and exhibiting a second order nonlinear optical susceptibility χ (2) of at least about 1 x 10⁻⁸ esu as measured at 1.91 µm excitation wavelength.

Claim 3

A nonlinear optical medium in accordance with claim 1 wherein the crystallographic molecular alignment is formed by uniaxial mechanical stressing.

Claim 4

A nonlinear optical medium in accordance with claim 1 wherein the crystallographic molecular alignment is formed by biaxial mechanical stressing.

Claim 5

A nonlinear optical medium in accordance with claim 1 wherein the dipolar molecular orientation is induced by an electric field.

Claim 6

A nonlinear optical medium in accordance with claim 1 which exhibits piezoelectric properties.

Claim 7

A nonlinear optical medium in accordance with claim 1 which has a weight average molecular weight in the range between about 5000-200,000.

Claim 8

A nonlinear optical medium comprising a transparent thermoplastic polymer film characterized by a crystallographic molecular alignment in the film plane, and a net dipolar molecular orientation normal to the film plane; wherein the polymer is characterized by recurring monomeric units corresponding to the formula: where X is a substituent selected from hydrogen, halogen, cyano, phenyl or halophenyl, and at least one X substituent is halogen or cyano; P′ is a polyvinyl main chain unit; S′ is a flexible spacer having a linear chain length of between about 1-20 atoms; M′ is a pendant group which exhibits second order nonlinear optical susceptibility; m and m¹ are integers which total at least ten, and the m¹ monomer comprises between about 20-80 mole percent of the total m+m¹ monomer units.

Claim 9

A nonlinear optical medium comprising a transparent thermoplastic polymer film characterized by a crystallographic molecular alignment in the film plane, and a net dipolar molecular orientation normal to the film plane; wherein the polymer is characterized by recurring monomeric units corresponding to the formula: where X is a substituent selected from hydrogen, halogen, cyano, phenyl or halophenyl, and at least one X substituent is halogen or cyano; P′ is a polyvinyl main chain unit; S′ is a flexible spacer having a linear chain length of between about 1-20 atoms; M′ is a pendant group which exhibits second order nonlinear optical susceptibility; m and m¹ are integers which total at least ten, and the m¹ monomer comprises between about 20-80 mole percent of the total m+m¹ monomer units.

Claim 10

A nonlinear optical medium in accordance with claim 7 which exhibits a second order nonlinear optical susceptibility χ (2) of at least about 1 x 10⁻⁸ esu as measured at 1.91 µm excitation wavelength.

Claim 11

A nonlinear optical medium comprising a transparent thermoplastic polymer film characterized by a crystallographic molecular alignment, and a net dipolar molecular orientation normal to the film plane, and exhibiting a second order nonlinear optical susceptibility χ (2) of at least about 1 x 10⁻⁸ esu as measured at 1.91 µm excitation wavelength; wherein the polymer has a weight average molecular weight between about 5000-200,000, and is characterized by recurring monomeric units corresponding to the formula: where X is a substituent selected from hydrogen, chloro, fluoro and cyano, and at least one X substituent is halo or cyano; n is an integer with a value between about 2-20; Y is -NR-, -O-, or S; R is hydrogen or a C₁-C₄ alkyl group; and Z is -NO₂, -CN or -CF₃.

Claim 12

A nonlinear optical medium comprising a transparent thermoplastic polymer film characterized by a crystallographic molecular alignment, and a net dipolar molecular orientation normal to the film plane, and exhibiting a second order nonlinear optical susceptibility χ (2) of at least about 1 x 10⁻⁸ esu as measured at 1.91 µm excitation wavelength; wherein the polymer has a weight average molecular weight between about 5000-200,000, and is characterized by recurring monomeric units corresponding to the formula: where X is a substituent selected from hydrogen, chloro, fluoro and cyano, and at least one X substituent is halo or cyano; n is an integer with a value between about 2-20; Y is -NR-, -O-, or S; R is hydrogen or a C₁-C₄ alkyl group; and Z is -NO₂, -CN or -CF₃.

Claim 13

A nonlinear optical medium comprising a transparent thermoplastic polymer film characterized by a crystallographic molecular alignment, and a net dipolar molecular orientation normal to the film plane, and exhibiting a second order nonlinear optical susceptibility χ (2) of at least about 1 x 10⁻⁸ esu as measured at 1.91 µm excitation wavelength; wherein the polymer has a weight average molecular weight between about 5000-200,000, and is characterized by recurring monomeric units corresponding to the formula: where X is a substituent selected from hydrogen, chloro, fluoro and cyano, and at least one X substituent is halo or cyano; n is an integer with a value between about 2-20; Y is -NR-, -O-, or S; R is hydrogen or a C₁-C₄ alkyl group; and Z is -NO₂, -CN or -CF₃.

Claim 14

A nonlinear optical medium comprising a transparent thermoplastic polymer film characterized by a crystallographic molecular alignment, and a net dipolar molecular orientation normal to the film plane, and exhibiting a second order nonlinear optical susceptibility χ (2) of at least about 1 x 10⁻⁸ esu as measured at 1.91 µm excitation wavelength; wherein the polymer has a weight average molecular weight between about 5000-200,000, and is characterized by recurring monomeric units corresponding to the formula: where X is a substituent selected from hydrogen, chloro, fluoro and cyano, and at least one X substituent is halo or cyano; n is an integer with a value between about 2-20; Y is -NR-, -O-, or S; R is hydrogen or a C₁-C₄ alkyl group; and Z is -NO₂, -CN or -CF₃.

Claim 15

An optical light switch or light modulator device with a polymeric nonlinear optical component comprising a transparent film of a thermoplastic polymer characterized by a crystallographic molecular alignment in the film plane, and a net dipolar molecular orientation normal to the film plane, and exhibiting a second order nonlinear optical susceptibility χ (2) of at least about 1 x 10⁻⁸ esu as measured at 1.91 µm excitation wavelength.

Claim 16

An optical light switch or light modulator device with a polymeric nonlinear optical component comprising a transparent film of a thermoplastic polymer characterized by a crystallographic molecular alignment in the film plane, and a net dipolar molecular orientation normal to the film plane, and exhibiting a second order nonlinear optical susceptibility χ (2) of at least about 1 x 10⁻⁸ esu as measured at 1.91 µm excitation wavelength.

Claim 17

An electrooptic light switch or light modulator device with a polymeric nonlinear optical component comprising a transparent film of a thermoplastic polymer characterized by a crystallographic molecular alignment induced by mechanical stress or a magnetic field, and a net dipolar molecular orientation normal to the film plane induced by an electric field poling voltage E p ; wherein the polymer is characterized by recurring monomeric units corresponding to the formula: where X is a substituent selected from hydrogen, halogen, cyano, phenyl or halophenyl, and at least one X substituent is halogen or cyano; P′ is a polyvinyl main chain unit; S′ is a flexible spacer having a linear chain length of between about 1-20 atoms; M′ is a pendant group which exhibits second order nonlinear optical susceptibility; m and m¹ are integers which total at least ten, and the m¹ monomer comprises between about 20-80 mole percent of the total m+m¹ monomer units; and wherein the essential relationship between an induced in-plane birefringence Δn and an applied modulating voltage E is represented by the formula: where f³ is the internal field parameter; N is the number of nonlinear optically active polymer molecules; β is the second order nonlinear optical susceptibility; µ is the dipole moment; k is the Boltzmann constant, T is the temperature; <P₂> and <P₄> are the second and fourth legendre polynomials characteristic of the average crystallographic molecular alignment of polymer molecules after stretching and poling.

Claim 18

An electrooptic light switch or light modulator device with a polymeric nonlinear optical component comprising a transparent film of a thermoplastic polymer characterized by a crystallographic molecular alignment induced by mechanical stress or a magnetic field, and a net dipolar molecular orientation normal to the film plane induced by an electric field poling voltage E p ; wherein the polymer is characterized by recurring monomeric units corresponding to the formula: where X is a substituent selected from hydrogen, halogen, cyano, phenyl or halophenyl, and at least one X substituent is halogen or cyano; P′ is a polyvinyl main chain unit; S′ is a flexible spacer having a linear chain length of between about 1-20 atoms; M′ is a pendant group which exhibits second order nonlinear optical susceptibility; m and m¹ are integers which total at least ten, and the m¹ monomer comprises between about 20-80 mole percent of the total m+m¹ monomer units; and wherein the essential relationship between an induced in-plane birefringence Δn and an applied modulating voltage E is represented by the formula: where f³ is the internal field parameter; N is the number of nonlinear optically active polymer molecules; β is the second order nonlinear optical susceptibility; µ is the dipole moment; k is the Boltzmann constant, T is the temperature; <P₂> and <P₄> are the second and fourth legendre polynomials characteristic of the average crystallographic molecular alignment of polymer molecules after stretching and poling.

Claim 19

An optical light switch or light modulator device with a polymeric nonlinear optical component comprising a transparent film of a copolymer which is characterized by a crystallographic molecular alignment in the film plane, and a net dipolar molecular orientation normal to the film plane, and exhibiting a second order nonlinear optical susceptibility χ (2) of at least about 1 x 10⁻⁸ esu as measured at 1.91 µm excitation wavelength; wherein the polymer has a weight average molecular weight between about 5000-200,000, and is characterized by recurring monomeric units corresponding to the formula: where X is a substituent selected from hydrogen, chloro, fluoro and cyano, and at least one X substituent is halo or cyano; n is an integer with a value between about 2-20; Y is -NR-, -O-, or -S-; R is hydrogen or a C₁-C₄ alkyl group; and Z is -NO₂, -CN or -CF₃.

Claim 20

An optical light switch or light modulator device with a polymeric nonlinear optical component comprising a transparent film of a copolymer which is characterized by a crystallographic molecular alignment in the film plane, and a net dipolar molecular orientation normal to the film plane, and exhibiting a second order nonlinear optical susceptibility χ (2) of at least about 1 x 10⁻⁸ esu as measured at 1.91 µm excitation wavelength; wherein the polymer has a weight average molecular weight between about 5000-200,000, and is characterized by recurring monomeric units corresponding to the formula: where X is a substituent selected from hydrogen, chloro, fluoro and cyano, and at least one X substituent is halo or cyano; n is an integer with a value between about 2-20; Y is -NR-, -O-, or -S-; R is hydrogen or a C₁-C₄ alkyl group; and Z is -NO₂, -CN or -CF₃.

Claim 21

A device in accordance with claim 13 wherein in the copolymer formula X is fluoro; R is hydrogen or methyl; Y is -NH-; and Z is nitro.

Claim 22

A device in accordance with claim 13 which is an electrooptic spatial light modulator.

Claim 23

A device in accordance with claim 13 which is a birefringent waveguide exhibiting second order nonlinear optical response.

Claim 24

An optical light switch or light modulator device with a polymeric nonlinear optical component comprising a transparent film of a copolymer which is characterized by a crystallographic molecular alignment, and a net dipolar molecular orientation normal to the film plane, and exhibiting a second order nonlinear optical susceptibility χ (2) of at least about 1 x 10⁻⁸ esu as measured at 1.91 µm excitation wavelength; wherein the polymer has a weight average molecular weight between about 5000-200,000, and is characterized by recurring monomeric units corresponding to the formula: where X is a substituent selected from hydrogen, chloro, fluoro and cyano, and at least one X substituent is halo or cyano; n is an integer with a value between about 2-20; Y is -NR-, -O-, or -S-; R is hydrogen or a C₁-C₄ alkyl group; and Z is -NO₂, -CN or -CF₃.

Claim 25

An optical light switch or light modulator device with a polymeric nonlinear optical component comprising a transparent film of a copolymer which is characterized by a crystallographic molecular alignment, and a net dipolar molecular orientation normal to the film plane, and exhibiting a second order nonlinear optical susceptibility χ (2) of at least about 1 x 10⁻⁸ esu as measured at 1.91 µm excitation wavelength; wherein the polymer has a weight average molecular weight between about 5000-200,000, and is characterized by recurring monomeric units corresponding to the formula: where X is a substituent selected from hydrogen, chloro, fluoro and cyano, and at least one X substituent is halo or cyano; n is an integer with a value between about 2-20; Y is -NR-, -O-, or -S-; R is hydrogen or a C₁-C₄ alkyl group; and Z is -NO₂, -CN or -CF₃.

Claim 26

A device in accordance with claim 17 wherein in the copolymer formula X is fluoro; R is hydrogen or methyl; Y is -NH-; and Z is nitro.

Claim 27

A device in accordance with claim 17 which is an electrooptic spatial light modulator.

Claim 28

A device in accordance with claim 17 which is a birefringent waveguide exhibiting second order nonlinear optical response.

Claim 29

A copolymer which is characterized by recurring monomeric units corresponding to the formula: where X is a substituent selected from hydrogen, chloro, fluoro and cyano, and at least one X substituent is halo or cyano; n is an integer with a value between about 2-20; Y is -NR-, -O-, or -S-; R is hydrogen or a C₁-C₄ alkyl group; Z is -NO₂, -CN or -CF₃; m and m¹ are integers which total at least ten, and the m¹ monomer comprises between about 20-80 mole percent of the total m+m¹ monomer units.

Claim 30

A copolymer which is characterized by recurring monomeric units corresponding to the formula: where X is a substituent selected from hydrogen, chloro, fluoro and cyano, and at least one X substituent is halo or cyano; n is an integer with a value between about 2-20; Y is -NR-, -O-, or -S-; R is hydrogen or a C₁-C₄ alkyl group; Z is -NO₂, -CN or -CF₃; m and m¹ are integers which total at least ten, and the m¹ monomer comprises between about 20-80 mole percent of the total m+m¹ monomer units.

Claim 31

A copolymer in accordance with claim 21 which has a weight average molecular weight between about 5000-200,000.

Claim 32

A copolymer which is characterized by recurring monomeric units corresponding to the formula: where X is a substituent selected from hydrogen, chloro, fluoro and cyano, and at least one X substituent is halo or cyano; n is an integer with a value between about 2-20; Y is -NR-, -O-, or -S-; R is hydrogen or a C₁-C₄ alkyl group; Z is -NO₂, -CN or -CF₃; m and m¹ are integers which total at least 10, and the m¹ monomer comprises between about 20-80 mole percent of the total m+m¹ monomer units.

Claim 33

A copolymer which is characterized by recurring monomeric units corresponding to the formula: where X is a substituent selected from hydrogen, chloro, fluoro and cyano, and at least one X substituent is halo or cyano; n is an integer with a value between about 2-20; Y is -NR-, -O-, or -S-; R is hydrogen or a C₁-C₄ alkyl group; Z is -NO₂, -CN or -CF₃; m and m¹ are integers which total at least 10, and the m¹ monomer comprises between about 20-80 mole percent of the total m+m¹ monomer units.

Claim 34

A copolymer in accordance with claim 23 which has a weight average molecular weight between about 5000-200,000.