The nonlinear optical properties and photoinduced anisotropy of a novel stilbene-containing fluorinated polyimide

The nonlinear optical properties and photoinduced anisotropy of a novel stilbene-containing fluorinated polyimide were investigated. Large macroscopic second-order optical nonlinearity (d33 = 35.4 pm/V) was obtained in a poled thin film using the Maker fringe method. A nonlinear absorption coefficient (β) of 0.65 × 10−5 cm/W and third-order nonlinear refractive index (n2) of −1.13 × 10−10 cm2/W were determined by Z-scan measurements. Photoinduced birefringence (Δn) of 1.02 × 10−2 was observed using a continuous Nd:YAG laser at 532 nm as pump light and a continuous diode laser at 650 nm as probe light.