The field of organic optical materials is rapidly growing, and advances are being made both in attaining a deeper understanding of device phenomena and in designing improved materials for thin films, fibers and waveguides. This book offers an interdisciplinary discussion of research on electronic and photonic devices made with organic and polymeric materials. The 1999 MRS Spring Meeting was highlighted by several major advances in fields ranging from nonlinear absorbers and electro-optic polymers, to photorefractive polymers, organic transistors and electroluminescent materials and devices for displays. This book highlights developments in materials chemistry and physics relevant to such devices and strikes a balance between basic science and technology. Topics include: nonlinear optical materials; photorefractive polymers; and electronic and light-emitting materials.

The purpose of this symposium was to provide an interdisciplinary forum for the discussion of recent advances in research on electronic and photonic devices made with organic and polymeric materials. The field of organic optical materials is rapidly growing, and new advances are being made both in attaining a deeper understanding of device phenomena and in designing improved materials for thin films, fibers, and waveguides. The symposium provided a highly interactive forum for an update in the connected areas of photonics with organic materials. The Meeting was highlighted by several major advances in various fields ranging from nonlinear absorbers and electro-optic polymers, to photorefractive polymers, organic transistors, and electroluminescent materials and devices for displays. The symposium highlighted developments in materials chemistry and physics relevant to such devices and struck a balance between basic science and technology.

Organic Nonlinear Optical Materials provides an extensive description of the preparation and characterization of organic materials for applications in nonlinear and electro-optics. The book discusses the fundamental optimization and practical limitations of a number of figures of merit for various optical parameters and gives a clinical appraisal o

The book provides comprehensive, up-to-date information on the physical properties of polymers including, viscoelasticity, flammability, miscibility, optical properties, surface properties and more. Containing carefully selected reprints from the Wiley's renowned Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Technology, this reference features the same breadth and quality of coverage and clarity of presentation found in the original.

The field of nonlinear optics developed gradually with the invention of lasers. After the discovery of second-harmonic generation in quartz, many other interesting nonlinear optical processes were rapidly discovered. Simultaneously theoretical programmes for the understanding of nonlinear optical phenomena were stimulated in accordance to develop structure-property relationships. In the beginning, research advances were made on inorganic ferroelectric materials followed by semiconductors. In the 1970's, the importance of organic materials was realised because of their nonlinear optical responses, fast optical response, high laser damage thresholds, architectural flexibility, and ease of fabrication. At present materials can be classified into three categories - inorganic ferroelectrics, semiconductors, and organic materials. Advances have also been made in quantum chemistry approaches to investigate nonlinear optical susceptibilities and in the development of novel nonlinear optical devices. Generally, inorganic and organic nonlinear optical materials and their related optical processes are reported in separate meetings. This book collects for the first time papers covering the recent developments and areas of present research in the field of nonlinear optical materials.

Liquid crystal (LC) materials and devices play a central role in numerous established and emerging technologies. This book focuses on several large areas of research including polymer-dispersed liquid crystal technology and twisted smectic materials and applications, as well as nontraditional LC materials and applications. Various aspects of liquid crystal composite technology are featured. Of note is the work concentrating on the use of holography to imprint information into thin films of these systems. Three different approaches for employing holography with liquid crystal materials are discussed. In the ferroelectric liquid crystal arena, the intricacies of different chiral smectic-C architectures are described using detailed X-ray structural experiments on freestanding films. The differences between a molecule and a phase are explored. A number of nondisplay applications using this class of materials are presented and include topics such as adaptive optics, real-time holography and fiber-to-fiber interconnects. Also discussed are glass-forming liquid crystalline films and their ability to polarize photoluminescent emission, their utility in the fabrication of mid-wavelength infrared polarizers, and their utility in the fabrication of bistable electro-optical elements and broadband reflectors.