Large Cubic Nonlinear Optical Properties of Organic Semiconductor Superlattices

Abstract

ABSTRACTWe have measured extremely large second hyperpolarizabilities〈γxxxx〉 in solutions of two recently prepared organic polymer semiconductor superlattices. These block copolymers are of alternating aromatic and quinoidal moieties and structurally differ by a side group substituent. The values observed are 1.6 × 10−29 esu for the parent copolymer (PBTBQ) and 3.7 × 10−30 esu for its acetoxy derivative (PBTABQ). The corresponding values of χ(3) are estimated to be 2.7 × 10−7 esu and 4.5 × 108 esu. The measurements, made by picosecond degenerate four wave mixing at 532 nm, showed that the dynamics of the larger χ(3) valued copolymer were faster than the 30 ps resolution of the instrument while the derivative exhibited a slower response. The large magnitude and rapid response of the cubic optical nonlinearities in these novel materials suggest theiT potential for further development and photonic device applications.