Large nonlinear refraction and higher order nonlinear optical effects in anovel organic dendrimer

The fast electronic nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of a novel synthetic organic dendrimer are reported. The complete synthesis of the organic dend rimer is provided. Both the z-scan and self-phase modulation techniques wer e used to measure the nonlinear refractive index. The magnitude of the nonl inear refractive index (n(2)) was measured to be 1.1 x 10(-4) cm(2)/GW. The presence of two-photon absorption was observed and the coefficient (beta) was found to be 1.2 x 10(-2) cm/GW. The nonlinear figure of merit of the de ndrimer system is found to be 0.02 for intensities used in our experiments. The NLO responses of the individual structural components of the dendrimer molecule are provided to probe the structure-function relationships. The p resence of a higher order, chi((5)), NLO effect was also detected and analy zed. The fast electronic processes of the dendrimer molecule and its compon ents where also investigated by up-conversion luminescence spectroscopy. Th ese studies provide the first probe into the ultrafast electronic NLO effec ts in organic dendrimers.