ELECTROOPTICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF A 2-CYCLO-OCTYLAMINO-5-NITROPYRIDINE THIN ORGANIC-CRYSTAL FILM

2-cyclo-octylamino-5-nitropyridine (COANP) single crystals were grown between transparent plates coated with indium tin oxide. The Pockels e ffect of the crystals was analyzed by an ac modulation method. The fig ure of merit of electro-optic phase retardation of the COANP crystals is estimated to be 4.2 x 10(-12) m/V. The crystals were protected by t he plates, and the figure of merit of the phase retardation of the cry stals did not decrease with time. We believe that the crystal-growth m ethod described is applicable to other organic compounds whose crystal growth from a melt is feasible. (C) 1998 Optical Society of America.