DNA photonics

Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) extracted and purified from salmon sperm was investigated for use in electro-optic devices as a cladding layer. The 500,000 molecular weight material has a refractive index less than that of common core materials such as poly(methyl)methacrylate (PMMA) and amorphous polycarbonates, shows a resistivity two orders of magnitude lower than common core materials, and shows no signs of degradation within 100degreesC of the host poling temperature. DNA was analyzed as a cladding material for two different chromophore systems, Disperse Red 1 (DR1), and Cheng-Larry Dalton 1 (CLD1) in a PMMA guest/host system. A baseline device, comprised only of a 1.7 mum layer of PMMA, was tested for non-linearity with each chromophore, with the r(33) value increasing with increasing temperature and voltage. Doublestack devices included a 1mum thick DNA film as the cladding layer with the baseline core layer above. Based on the dielectric properties of DNA, values of r(33) were calculated for the theoretical behavior of the devices. The recorded r(33) values were accurate within 5% of the calculated values with the DR1 chromophore, and within 20% with the CLD1 chromophore, hence showing good device reproducibility.