POLYMERS FOR PHOTONICS

Polymers have emerged as an important class of materials for applications in photonics. In this review, a brief background is presented on photonics and nonlinear optical processes, the latter providing many of the operational functions for the photonics technology. Nonlinear optical processes in polymeric materials are discussed along with the needed structural requirements. The three types of nonlinear polymeric systems discussed are: (i) chi(2) materials; (ii) chi(3) materials and (iii) photorefractive polymers. The photorefractive polymeric systems utilize the combined action of photoconductivity and nonlinear optical effect. New developments using sol-gel processed inorganic glass: polymer composites for nonlinear optics are discussed.