Polymeric materials for non-linear optics and photonics

The third-order non-linear optical effect providing mechanisms for light control by light is expected to play a major role in the future technology of photonics. Conjugated polymers have emerged as an important class of third-order non-linear optical materials. This paper reviews basic concepts of non-linear optical effects in polymeric materials. Then results from experimental measurements of third-order non-linear optical processes in some representative polymeric structures are presented. These results have been obtained using the state-of-the-art femtosecond time-resolved degenerate four-wave mixing, optical Kerr gate and transient absorption techniques. Experimental studies of optical non-linearities in polymeric waveguides are also described. The paper concludes with a discussion of relevant issues and opportunities in this field for polymer scientists.