For potential optoelectronic applications, new polymeric thin films
containing nonlinear optical chromophores aligned by electric field poling
for a χ(2) nonlinear optical response have been prepared and
studied. Spectroscopic and optical waveguiding techniques, as well as second
harmonic generation and electrooptic measurements, are being used to
characterize these thin film materials. Here we optimize the chromophores in
spectral response, nonlinearity, concentration and degree of alignment.
Stability in the nonlinearity has been improved considerably by attaching
the chromophores to crosslinked epoxy polymers. Some applications of these
materials for electrooptic phase modulators will be presented.