Optically non-linear active waveguiding material comprising a dopant

Abstract

The invention relates to an optically non-linear active waveguiding material comprising an optically transparent polymer and a non-linear optical dopant comprising more than one donor-.pi.-acceptor unit. Dopants comprising more than one donor-.pi.-acceptor unit, especially dopants in which the donor-.pi.-acceptor units are positioned in a cyclic group, have a high hyperpolarizability and a charge-transfer absorption band wavelength which is about the same as that of dopants with only one donor-.pi.-acceptor unit. Especially suitable dopants for use are calix(4)arenes. These are provided with acceptor groups at the upper rim and with donor groups at the lower rim. In addition to having excellent hyperpolarizability, these compounds were found to be readily soluble in host polymers, such as polymethylene (meth) acrylate and polystyrene. Because of their charge-transfer absorption band at a low wavelength, optically non-linear active waveguiding structures containing such dopants are suitable for use as frequency doublers. The invention further relates to hitherto undisclosed calix(4)arenes functionalized with nitrostilbene groups, cyanostilbene groups, sulfor stilbene groups, sulfonate stilbene groups, azobenzenes or benzylidene aniline compounds.