CORONA-POLED NONLINEAR POLYMERIC FILMS: IN SITU ELECTRIC FIELD MEASUREMENT, CHARACTERIZATION AND ULTRASHORT-PULSE APPLICATIONS

Abstract

Electric poling at field intensities approaching the dielectric strength of the film is possible with corona poling. Polymeric thin films with large second-order nonlinearities can be created with this poling technique. In this paper, the corona poling of nonlinear polymeric films at elevated temperatures, processing, characterization and possible ultrashort-pulse applications are reviewed. An experimental technique is presented to measure the electric field during poling of the nonlinear polymeric film. The characterization of orientational order in corona-poled nonlinear polymeric films and the effects associated with the large electric field during poling are discussed. Poled polymeric thin films are uniquely suited for second-order nonlinear optical applications of ultrashort pulses (< 50 fsec) since minimal pulse spreading occurs. The sum-frequency ultrashort-pulse application of nonlinear polymeric thin films and limitations of the thin polymeric films are discussed. Experimental results are presented of a side-chain nonlinear polymer that is ideally suited for ultrashort-pulse applications.