General Electric Company

Molecular Optoelectronics Corporation

University of California

Kevin R Stewart

Eugene Pauling Boden

Janet L Gordon

Kwok Pong Chan

Christopher P Yakymyshyn

Peter David Phelps

Daniel Joseph Brunelle

Niles R Rosenquist

Thomas L Evans

David A Williams

Michael Alan Vallance

David Gilles Gascoyne

Thomas G Shannon

William Hilakos

Dwight J Patterson

Feng Pan

Andrew Jay Salem

Timothy J Carrig

Antoinette J Taylor

Chiral organic polymers doped with or appended by nonlinear optical dyes are disclosed. The use of chiral polymers produces a more stable noncentrosymmetric environment for the dye molecules resulting in unexpectedly long relaxation times as compared with previously used organic polymers. In addition, the NLO/chiral polymer materials exhibit high electro-optical coefficients (r,), high nonlinear optical coefficients (d,), improved long-term thermal stability, and at the same time retain the processing advantages associated with organic polymers. Thus, the present NLO/chiral polymer materials are extremely well-suited for use in second-order nonlinear optical and optoelectronics devices.

Chiral polymer compositions exhibiting nonlinear optical properties

Linear polycarbonate polymers are disclosed which contain spirobiindanol derivatives regularly alternating in the polymeric chain with derivatives of dihydroxyaromatic compounds, such as biphenols and bisphenols. These clear spirobiindane-dihydroxyaromatic polycarbonates exhibit high glass transition temperatures and exhibit good mechanical and optical properties. In addition, the alternating polycarbonates are thermally stable and remain ductile even at temperatures greater than 150&deg; C. The polycarbonates are therefore useful in high temperature processing and optical applications. The disclosed polycarbonates exhibit indices of refraction that differ sufficiently from those of randomly distributed SBI/BPA polycarbonates to make them useful in the manufacture of optical waveguides.

Polycarbonates derived from spirobiindanols and dihydroxyaromatic compounds

Optically active polycarbonate, polyester, and polyurethane polymers prepared from monomers containing optically pure spirobiindane moieties are disclosed. The chiral spirobiindane polymers are of high molecular weight and exhibit high optical rotations. In addition, the optically active polymers are useful in the fabrication of optoelectronics devices and as polarizing coatings or filters or as polarized lenses.

Optically active spirobiindane polymers

Optically active poly(aryl)ether polymers prepared from monomers containing optically pure spirobiindane and/or indane moieties are disclosed. The chiral poly(aryl)ether polymers are of high molecular weight and exhibit high optical rotations. In addition, the polyethers are thermally stable at high temperatures and exhibit excellent hydrolytic resistance making them useful in high temperature processing applications, in the fabrication of optoelectronics devices, and as polarizing coatings and filters.

Optically active poly(aryl)ethers containing optically pure spirobindane

Optically active polycarbonate, polyester, and polyurethane polymers prepared from monomers containing optically pure indane moieties are disclosed. The chiral indane polymers are of high molecular weight and exhibit high optical rotations. In addition, the optically active polymers are useful in the fabrication of optoelectronics devices and as polarizing coatings or filters or as polarized lenses.

Optically active indane polymers

Apparatus for the generation of high energy terahertz radiation is presented and comprises laser means effective to produce subpicosecond optical pulses and a mosaic comprising a plurality of planar electro-optic crystals fastened together edge to edge in the form of a grid. The electro-optic crystals are in optical communication with the subpicosecond optical pulses, and behave as a single large electro-optic crystal, producing high energy terahertz radiation by way of optical rectification.

Electro-optic crystal mosaics for the generation of terahertz radiation

A novel process is disclosed for producing stilbazolium salts. Said novel process employs a heterocyclic amine catalyst, such as pyrrolidine, an alkylated pyridine salt and a substituted benzaldehyde which unexpectedly results in increased reaction rates and product yields.

Process for the preparation of stilbazolium salts

Deuterated organic salts useful in nonlinear optical applications are disclosed herein. More particularly, optoelectronic devices and systems are prepared from said deuterated organic salts and the preferred salt is perdeuterated 4'-dimethylamino-4-methylstilbazolium p-toluenesulfonate.

Deuterated organic salts useful in nonlinear optical applications

Stilbazolium salts that retain high second harmonic generation properties as well as high melting points are disclosed herein. More particularly, novel 4'-dimethylamino-N-methylstilbazolium cyclopentanesulfonate and homologs thereof which are expected to be useful in optoelectric devices and systems are disclosed.

High melting point stilbazolium salts

4'-Dimethylamino-4-methylstilbazolium methanesulfonate is prepared by the reaction of methyl methanesulfonate with 4-picoline followed by condensation with p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde. Its hydrated form has second harmonic generation optical properties, but this is not true of the anhydrous form. Thus, the hydrated form is useful in the production of optical waveguides, spatial light modulators and the like.

Stilbazolium salt and optically non-linear devices incorporating same

Optical waveguides comprise as core and cladding materials a chemical compound in two different crystalline forms with different indices of refraction. Preferably, the non-linear form is anhydrous and the linear form is a hydrate thereof, whereupon the core material can be prepared by selective heating of the cladding material as by a laser beam. A preferred compound is 4'-dimethylamino-4-methylstilbazolium p-toluenesulfonate.

Optical waveguides and method for their fabrication

Cyclic polycarbonate oligomers are converted to linear polycarbonates by the catalytic action of a monobasic metal salicylate. The polymerization reaction takes place only at relatively high temperatures, typically above about 220.degree. C., and rapidly only at temperatures above about 250.degree. C., and is therefore particularly useful in such operations as resin transfer molding. The catalyst may be coated on a fibrous reinforcing material used for composite formation.

Preparation of linear polycarbonates from cyclic oligomer compositions

Cyclic polycarbonate oligomers are converted to linear polycarbonates by the catalytic action of a zwitterionic compound containing positively charged nitrogen and negatively charged oxygen. The polymerization reaction is slow, and therefore particularly useful in such operations as resin transfer molding.

Cyclic polycarbonate oligomers are converted to linear polycarbonates by the catalytic action of an aryl tetrahydropyranyl ether. The polymerization reaction is slow, and therefore particularly useful in such operations as resin transfer molding.

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Schenectady, NY, United States of America

Kevin R Stewart