Quadratic electro-optic effect in the nonconjugated conductive polymer iodine-doped poly(ββ-pinene) measured at longer wavelengths including 1.55μm

The quadratic electro-optic effect in the nonconjugated conductive polymer iodine-doped poly(ββ-pinene), measured at longer wavelengths including 1.55 μm, is reported. The field-induced birefringence technique was used. A modulation depth of 0.1% was observed in a 1 μm thick sample for an applied field of 1 V/μm at 1.55 μm. The corresponding Kerr coefficient obtained is 1.6×10−10 m/V 2. The Kerr coefficients measured at 790–810 nm are also very large. This exceptionally large (largest known) optical nonlinearity has been attributed to the subnanometer size metallic quantum dots formed in this polymer upon doping with iodine and the optimized film quality recently achieved.