Abstract

Conjugated polymers possess a 1-D band structure; a property which when coupled to their large intrachain bandwidth allows extensive 1-D delocalization of the electronic wave function. The unique delocalization is predicted to give rise to extremely fast (<1 ps) and large electronic third-order optical susceptibilities [χ⁽³⁾]. χ⁽³⁾ the measure of the change in the index of refraction with the pulse intensity and is the most important material parameter for use in an all-optical device. As the prototype conjugated polymer, polyacetylene provides a unique opportunity for studying the nonlinear optical response of this potentially useful class of optoelectronic materials.

© 1987 Optical Society of America