Linear and nonlinear optical properties of newly synthesized amide based rotaxane films are investigated. The dispersion curves of refractive indices have been characterized. A relatively large anisotropy of refractive indices is observed. The vacuum deposited thin film can be poled by a static electric field. This fact shows some degree of freedom for the mobility of macrocycle with respect to the thread. The induced d₃₃ susceptibility after static electric field polarization at (lambda) =1.064micrometers is 0.57 pm/V and 3.43 pm/V for rotaxane 1 and 2 respectively. Kinetics of poling and relaxation at different temperatures was studied by in situ SHG technique. From the poling kinetics the characteristic response times of the system were evaluated. Third harmonic generation was measured at 1.064micrometers and 1.907micrometers fundamental wavelengths. The electronic part of the third order NLO susceptibility (chi) ⁽³) (-3(omega) ;(omega) ,(omega) ,(omega) ) was found to be (6.4+/- 0.2)*10^-13esu and (4.1+/- 0.8)*10^-13esu at 1.604micrometers and (6.9+/- 0.4)*10^-13esu and (4.2+/- 0.3)*10^-13esu at 1.907micrometers for 1 and 2 respectively. Upon UV irradiation a clipping movement induced by a trans-cis isomerization process has been identified.

Date Published: 29 November 2000
PDF: 11 pages
Proc. SPIE 4106, Linear, Nonlinear, and Power-Limiting Organics, (29 November 2000); doi: 10.1117/12.408519

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 4106:
Linear, Nonlinear, and Power-Limiting Organics
Manfred Eich; Christopher M. Lawson; Mark G. Kuzyk; Manfred Eich; Mark G. Kuzyk; Christopher M. Lawson; Robert A. Norwood, Editor(s)