Claims
- 1. A process for the production of a transparent nonlinear optical medium which comprises heating a thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer to form an isotropic melt phase, and cooling the isotropic melt phase rapidly within a time period between about 0.001-60 seconds to below the glass transition temperature of the polymer to form a transparent solid medium; wherein the polymer has mesogenic side chains which comprise at least about 25 weight percent of the polymer, and the polymer has a glass transition temperature above about 40.degree. C., and wherein the transparent medium exhibits third order nonlinear optical response.
- 2. A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein the liquid crystalline polymer has a polyvinyl main chain structure.
- 3. A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein the liquid crystalline polymer has a polysiloxane main chain structure.
- 4. A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein the liquid crystalline polymer has a polyoxyalkylene main chain structure.
- 5. A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein the liquid crystalline polymer has a polyester main chain structure.
- 6. A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein the liquid crystalline polymer has a polyamide main chain structure.
- 7. A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein the transparent nonlinear optical medium exhibits a third order nonlinear optical susceptibility .chi..sup.(3) of at least about 1.times.10.sup.-11 esu as measured at 1.91 .mu.m excitation wavelength.
- 8. A process for the production of a transparent nonlinear optical medium which comprises heating a thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer above the mesophase temperature range to form an isotropic melt phase, and cooling the isotropic melt phase rapidly within a time period between about 0.001-60 seconds to below the glass transition temperature of the polymer to form a transparent solid medium; wherein the transparent nonlinear optical medium exhibits a third order nonlinear optical susceptibility .chi..sup.(3) of at least about 1.times.10.sup.-11 esu as measured at 1.91 .mu.m excitation wavelength, and wherein the polymer is characterized by a recurring monomeric unit corresponding to the formula: ##STR20## where P is a main chain polymer unit; m is an integer of at least 10; S is a flexible spacer group having a linear chain length of between about 1-25 atoms; X is --NR--, --O-- or --S--; R is hydrogen or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl group; Y is ##STR21## Z is an electron-donating group or an electron-withdrawing group; and where the polymer has a glass transition temperature above about 40.degree. C.
- 9. A process for the production of a transparent nonlinear optical medium which comprises heating a thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer above the mesophase temperature range to form an isotropic melt phase, and cooling the isotropic melt phase rapidly within a time period between about 0.001-60 seconds to below the glass transition temperature of the polymer to form a transparent solid medium; wherein the transparent nonlinear optical medium exhibits a third order nonlinear optical susceptibility .chi..sup.(3) of at least about 1.times.10.sup.-11 esu as measured at 1.91 .mu.m excitation wavelength, and wherein the polymer is characterized by a recurring monomeric unit corresponding to the formula: ##STR22## where n is an integer between about 4-20; X.sup.1 is --NR.sup.1 --, --O--, or --S--; R.sup.1 is hydrogen or methyl; Z.sup.1 is --NO.sub.2, --CN or --CF.sub.3 ; and where the polymer has a weight average molecular weight in the range between about 5000-200,000, and a glass transition temperature above about 40.degree. C.
- 10. A process for the production of a transparent nonlinear optical medium which comprises heating a thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer above the mesophase temperature range to form an isotropic melt phase, and cooling the isotropic melt phase rapidly within a time period between about 0.001-60 seconds to below the glass transition temperature of the polymer to form a transparent solid medium; wherein the transparent nonlinear optical medium exhibits a third order nonlinear optical susceptibility .chi..sup.(3) of at least about 1.times.10.sup.-11 esu as measured at 1.91 .mu.m excitation wavelength, and wherein the polymer is characterized by a recurring monomeric unit corresponding to the formula: ##STR23## where n is an integer between about 4-20; X.sup.1 is --NR.sup.1 --, --O--, or --S--; R.sup.1 is hydrogen or methyl; Z.sup.1 is --NO.sub.2, --CN or --CF.sub.3 ; and where the polymer has a weight average molecular weight in the range between about 5000-200,000, and a glass transition temperature above about 40.degree. C.
Government Interests
This invention was made with Government support under Contract Number F49620-84-C-0110 awarded by the Department of Defense. The Federal Government has certain rights in this invention.
US Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
4613328 |
Ringsdorf |
Dec 1986 |
|