A new polymeric material for optical switching

The nonlinear optical properties of a new polymeric material, the doped fil m of 4'-(2 ",4 ",6 "-trichlorophenazoamino)-phenazo-4-nitrobenzene, was stu died. Large nonresonant optical nonlinearity (chi((3)) greater than or equa l to 10(-28) C(4)m/J(3) or 10(-9) esu) and fast response time (t < 20 ps) w ere measured by forward degenerate four-wave mixing experiment. Optical bis table behavior in a quasi-waveguide interferometer with the thin film of th e material was observed. The potential of the material for optical switchin g was evaluated.