ELECTROOPTIC CHROMOPHORES WITH LARGE OPTICAL BIREFRINGENCE FOR APPLICATIONS AT HIGH SPEED AND SHORT WAVELENGTHS

摘要

Disclosed is a series of materials, which exhibit large birefringence under the influence of an applied electric field. These materials are capable of switching this large birefringence with a characteristic time on the order of 1 microsecond or less. In addition, these materials have good optical loss at this wavelength, and are stable under irradiation. These materials are suitable for fabrication of optical devices such a variable optical attenuators, switches, and modulators that respond in these time frames or slower. These materials are also suitable for use across a wide range of wavelengths. As a second component of this invention, some of these novel materials exhibit these desired optical properties (large birefringence, low loss, stability under illumination) at wavelengths as short as about 400 nm. These materials are suitable for fabrication of optical devices operating at or about 405 nm, where conventional EO materials strongly absorb and/or quickly degrade.