Abstract

We have recently discovered a new class of high-temperature electro-optic (EO) chromophores, 1,8-naphthylene-benzimid- azoles, that possess large second-order optical coefficients along with high thermal, chemical, and photo stabilities,¹-² In an effort to optimize the structure, we have found that isomers that have very similar structures exhibit remarkable differences in both their linear and nonlinear optical properties. We report here theoretical and experimental results of the effects of isomers on second-order optical susceptibilities, as evidenced in the case of our high-temperature EO chromophores.

© 1995 Optical Society of America