Optical materials with large values of non-linear susceptibilities and fast responses are in great demand in industrial applications, such as non-linear optical switching devices for use in photonics and real-time coherent optical signal processors, optical limiters, and so on. In general, many applications of non-linear optics that have been demonstrated under controlled laboratory conditions could become practical for technological uses if such materials were available. It is usually believed that an effective enhanced non-linear optical response can appear in a composite material in which at least one component should possess an inherent non-linear optical response. Thus, the common way to develop new non-linear optical materials is to seek materials in which the components possess an inherently large non-linear optical response. In contrast, the author has theoretically exploited some new non-linear optical materials, e.g., colloidal nanocrystals with strong lattice effects, metallic films with inhomogeneous microstructures adjusted by ion doping or temperature gradient, composites of graded (and/or shape-anisotropic) nanoparticles, etc. The proposed materials are difficult or impossible to achieve with conventional, naturally occurring materials or random composites widely discussed in the literature. This book presents a first-hand review of the latest developments in this field.

Nonlinear Optical Crystals contains the most complete and up-to-date reference material on properties of nonlinear optical crystals including: Traditional and specific applications The mathematical formulas necessary for the calculation of the frequency conversion process A survey of 63 nonlinear optical crystals containing more than 1500 different references with full titles Recent applications of common and novel nonlinear materials, including quasi-phase matching Special consideration for periodically-poled and self-frequency-doubling materials Significant amount of crystallophysical, thermophysical, spectroscopic, electro-optic and magneto-optic information

This book provides an up-to-date account of current trends in nonlinear optics. It is intended for researchers already engaged in the field of nonlinear optics. It may also be used by graduate students due to its comprehensive coverage and pedagogical presentation.

Mathematical methods play a significant role in the rapidly growing field of nonlinear optical materials. This volume discusses a number of successful or promising contributions. The overall theme of this volume is twofold: (1) the challenges faced in computing and optimizing nonlinear optical material properties; and (2) the exploitation of these properties in important areas of application. These include the design of optical amplifiers and lasers, as well as novel optical switches. Research topics in this volume include how to exploit the magnetooptic effect, how to work with the nonlinear optical response of materials, how to predict laser-induced breakdown in efficient optical devices, and how to handle electron cloud distortion in femtosecond processes.

Describing progress achieved in the field of nonlinear optics and nonlinear optical materials, the Handbook treats selected topics such as photorefractive materials, third-order nonlinear optical materials and organic nonlinear optical crystals, as well as electro-optic polymers. Applications of photorefractive materials in optical memories, optical processing, and guided-wave nonlinear optics in hotorefractive waveguides are described. As light will play a more and more dominant role as an information carrier, the review of existing and new materials given here makes this a keystone book in the field.

This book presents an excellent overview of the exciting new advances in nonlinear optical (NLO) materials and their applications in emerging photonics technologies. It is the first reference source available to cover every NLO material published through 1995! All theoretical approaches, measurement techniques, materials, technologies, and applications are covered. With more than 1,800 bibliographic citations, 324 figures, 218 tables, and 812 equations, this book is an invaluable reference source for graduate and undergraduate students, researchers, scientists and engineers working in academia and industries in chemistry, solid-state physics, materials science, optical and polymer engineering, and computational science.

Nonlinear optical materials play a pivotal role in the future evolution of nonlinear optics in general and its impact in technology and industrial applications in particular. The progress in nonlinear optics has been tremendous since the first demonstration of an all-optical nonlinear effect in the early sixties, but until recently the main visible emphasis was on the physical aspects of the nonlinear radiation matter interaction. In the last decade, however, this effort has also brought its fruits in applied aspects of nonlinear optics. This can be essentially traced to the improvement of the performances of the nonlinear optical materials. Our understanding of the nonlinear polarization mechanisms and their relation to the structural characteristics of the materials has been considerably improved. In addition, the new development of techniques for the fabrication and growth of artificial materials has dramatically contributed to this evolution. The goal is to find and develop materials presenting large nonlinearities and satisfying at the same time all the technological requirements for applications such as wide transparency range, fast response, high damage threshold but also processability, adaptability and interfacing with other materials. Improvements, besides rendering possible the implementation of nonlinear effects in devices, open the way to the study of new nonlinear optical effects and the introduction of new concepts. This book describes new concepts which are emerging in the field of nonlinear optical materials, concentrating the attention on materials which seem more promising for applications in the technology of information transmission and processing.