DESIGN AND SYNTHESIS OF FERROELECTRIC LIQUID-CRYSTALS .25. AN APPROACH TO NEW MATERIALS FOR ULTRA-FAST ELECTRONIC ELECTROOPTIC MODULATORS

Combining excellent processibility on silicon integrated circuits with a thermodynamically stable polar structure, ferroelectric liquid crys tals (FLCs) provide an attractive potential approach to synthesis of m aterials for second order nonlinear optics (NLO). In order for this po tential to be realized, however, adequate magnitude of the second orde r susceptibility chi((2)) must be obtained. Recent results of experime nts demonstrating orientation along the FLC polar axis of functional a rrays with large molecular second order susceptibility, such as those found in the NLO dyes Disperse Red 1 and dimethylaminonitrostilbene, a re described.