Hybrid organic-dielectric thin film stacks for nonlinear optical applications

We propose an optical switching device that utilizes the third-order nonlinear optical effect in an organic material embedded into a superprism photonic crystal structure. A convenient way for the realization of the photonic crystal is using a multilayer thin film stack made of dielectrics. Following this approach, we face the challenge of building hybrid stacks containing both inorganic dielectric as well as organic materials. We evaluate strategies for the design and fabrication of hybrid thin film stacks to avoid the development of thin film cracking during the fabrication of hybrid PS-Ta2O5 (polystyrene-tantala) and PMMA-Ta2O5 (poly(methyl methacrylate)-tantala) stacks on glass substrates. Crack-free hybrid PS-Ta2O5 as well as PS-SiO2 (polystyrene-silicon dioxide) and PMMA-SiO2 (poly(methyl methacrylate)-silicon dioxide) samples on glass substrates were fabricated.