Photoinduced Modifications of the Nonlinear Optical Response in Liquid Crystalline Azopolymers

This study of the molecular response of a variety of push-pull organic compounds offers a starting point for macroscopic-scale investigation of azobenzene-based liquid crystalline polymeric films and their blends with highly efficient NLO chromophores.

Nonlinear optical (NLO) phenomena such as frequency conversion have played a key role in the development of photonic technologies. This thesis reports a detailed study of the molecular response of a large variety of push-pull organic compounds using the Second Harmonic Generation technique, which will serve as a starting point for the investigation at the macroscopic scale of azobenzene-based liquid crystalline polymeric films and their blends with highly efficient NLO
chromophores. These materials are designed with the aim of exploiting their photoadressability in order to tailor their nonlinear behaviour. The magnitude and symmetry of their NL response was successfully controlled via light irradiation and thermal treatments. Moreover, as a specific application, the recording of efficient NLO gratings was achieved.

Recipient of the 'Outstanding Science PhD' Award of the University of Zaragoza Describes the successful customization of organic materials to tailor their nonlinear optical behaviour A detailed study with application examples Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Inhalt
Introduction and Basic Theory.- Experimental Methods.- Nonlinear Optical Molecular Response.- Piperazine Azopolymer Thin Films.- Films of Doped Low Polar Azopolymers.- Nonlinear Optical Gratings.- General Conclusions.- Appendices