Process for producing polymeric media exhibiting third order nonlinear optical response

Claim 2

A process for the production of a transparent nonlinear optical medium which comprises heating a thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer to form an isotropic melt phase, and cooling the isotropic melt phase rapidly within a time period between about 0.001-60 seconds to below the glass transition temperature of the polymer to form a transparent solid medium; wherein the polymer has mesogenic side chains which comprise at least about 25 weight percent of the polymer, and the polymer has a glass transition temperature above about 40° C., and wherein the transparent medium exhibits third order nonlinear optical response.

Claim 3

A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein the liquid crystalline polymer has a polyvinyl main chain structure.

Claim 4

A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein the liquid crystalline polymer has a polysiloxane main chain structure.

Claim 5

A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein the liquid crystalline polymer has a polyoxyalkylene main chain structure.

Claim 6

A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein the liquid crystalline polymer has a polyester main chain structure.

Claim 7

A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein the liquid crystalline polymer has a polyamide main chain structure.

Claim 8

A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein the transparent nonlinear optical medium exhibits a third order nonlinear optical susceptibility χ.sup.(3) of at least about 1×10 -11 esu as measured at 1.91 μm excitation wavelength.

Claim 9

A process for the production of a transparent nonlinear optical medium which comprises heating a thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer above the mesophase temperature range to form an isotropic melt phase, and cooling the isotropic melt phase rapidly within a time period between about 0.001-60 seconds to below the glass transition temperature of the polymer to form a transparent solid medium; wherein the transparent nonlinear optical medium exhibits a third order nonlinear optical susceptibility χ.sup.(3) of at least about 1×10 -11 esu as measured at 1.91 μm excitation wavelength, and wherein the polymer is characterized by a recurring monomeric unit corresponding to the formula: ##STR20## where P is a main chain polymer unit; m is an integer of at least 10; S is a flexible spacer group having a linear chain length of between about 1-25 atoms; X is --NR--, --O-- or --S--; R is hydrogen or a C 1 -C 4 alkyl group; Y is ##STR21## Z is an electron-donating group or an electron-withdrawing group; and where the polymer has a glass transition temperature above about 40° C.

Claim 10

A process for the production of a transparent nonlinear optical medium which comprises heating a thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer above the mesophase temperature range to form an isotropic melt phase, and cooling the isotropic melt phase rapidly within a time period between about 0.001-60 seconds to below the glass transition temperature of the polymer to form a transparent solid medium; wherein the transparent nonlinear optical medium exhibits a third order nonlinear optical susceptibility χ.sup.(3) of at least about 1×10 -11 esu as measured at 1.91 μm excitation wavelength, and wherein the polymer is characterized by a recurring monomeric unit corresponding to the formula: ##STR20## where P is a main chain polymer unit; m is an integer of at least 10; S is a flexible spacer group having a linear chain length of between about 1-25 atoms; X is --NR--, --O-- or --S--; R is hydrogen or a C 1 -C 4 alkyl group; Y is ##STR21## Z is an electron-donating group or an electron-withdrawing group; and where the polymer has a glass transition temperature above about 40° C.

Claim 11

A process for the production of a transparent nonlinear optical medium which comprises heating a thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer above the mesophase temperature range to form an isotropic melt phase, and cooling the isotropic melt phase rapidly within a time period between about 0.001-60 seconds to below the glass transition temperature of the polymer to form a transparent solid medium; wherein the transparent nonlinear optical medium exhibits a third order nonlinear optical susceptibility χ.sup.(3) of at least about 1×10 -11 esu as measured at 1.91 μm excitation wavelength, and wherein the polymer is characterized by a recurring monomeric unit corresponding to the formula: ##STR22## where n is an integer between about 4-20; X 1 is --NR 1 --, --O--, or --S--; R 1 is hydrogen or methyl; Z 1 is --NO 2 , --CN or --CF 3 ; and where the polymer has a weight average molecular weight in the range between about 5000-200,000, and a glass transition temperature above about 40° C.

Claim 12

A process for the production of a transparent nonlinear optical medium which comprises heating a thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer above the mesophase temperature range to form an isotropic melt phase, and cooling the isotropic melt phase rapidly within a time period between about 0.001-60 seconds to below the glass transition temperature of the polymer to form a transparent solid medium; wherein the transparent nonlinear optical medium exhibits a third order nonlinear optical susceptibility χ.sup.(3) of at least about 1×10 -11 esu as measured at 1.91 μm excitation wavelength, and wherein the polymer is characterized by a recurring monomeric unit corresponding to the formula: ##STR22## where n is an integer between about 4-20; X 1 is --NR 1 --, --O--, or --S--; R 1 is hydrogen or methyl; Z 1 is --NO 2 , --CN or --CF 3 ; and where the polymer has a weight average molecular weight in the range between about 5000-200,000, and a glass transition temperature above about 40° C.

Claim 13

A process for the production of a transparent nonlinear optical medium which comprises heating a thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer above the mesophase temperature range to form an isotropic melt phase, and cooling the isotropic melt phase rapidly within a time period between about 0.001-60 seconds to below the glass transition temperature of the polymer to form a transparent solid medium; wherein the transparent nonlinear optical medium exhibits a third order nonlinear optical susceptibility χ.sup.(3) of at least about 1×10 -11 esu as measured at 1.91 μm excitation wavelength, and wherein the polymer is characterized by a recurring monomeric unit corresponding to the formula: ##STR23## where n is an integer between about 4-20; X 1 is --NR 1 --, --O--, or --S--; R 1 is hydrogen or methyl; Z 1 is --NO 2 , --CN or --CF 3 ; and where the polymer has a weight average molecular weight in the range between about 5000-200,000, and a glass transition temperature above about 40° C.

Claim 14

A process for the production of a transparent nonlinear optical medium which comprises heating a thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer above the mesophase temperature range to form an isotropic melt phase, and cooling the isotropic melt phase rapidly within a time period between about 0.001-60 seconds to below the glass transition temperature of the polymer to form a transparent solid medium; wherein the transparent nonlinear optical medium exhibits a third order nonlinear optical susceptibility χ.sup.(3) of at least about 1×10 -11 esu as measured at 1.91 μm excitation wavelength, and wherein the polymer is characterized by a recurring monomeric unit corresponding to the formula: ##STR23## where n is an integer between about 4-20; X 1 is --NR 1 --, --O--, or --S--; R 1 is hydrogen or methyl; Z 1 is --NO 2 , --CN or --CF 3 ; and where the polymer has a weight average molecular weight in the range between about 5000-200,000, and a glass transition temperature above about 40° C.