It is now well established that a unique feature of coherent optical beams is their ability to transmit, process, store and interconnect in parallel a large number of high bandwidth information channels. However, although these techniques possess great potential their development depends critically on the nonlinear optical effects used and on the availability of nonlinear optical materials that work at high speed and low incident optical power. At present, these requirements are stimulating a great deal of research in materials science and are challenging existing technologies, in particular high speed electronics. This volume devoted to nonlinear optical effects and materials presents a detailed account of selected topics in inorganic and organic materials re search. The status of organic crystals and polymers for nonlinear optics is critically compared with their inorganic counterparts. The preparation tech niques and a description of the methods used to characterize the nonlinear optical effects relevant for device applications are dealt with, as well as a theoretical description of the nonlinear optical, electro-optical and photore fractive effects observed. The main concepts and potential applications are outlined and developed in the various chapters of this book. This collection of articles provides a broad survey of selected research topics in organic and in organic nonlinear optics.

Up-to-date review of nonlinear materials Provides a rich source of information for physicists and engineers in the field The most comprehensive book available on the issue Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Inhalt
1 Introduction.- References.- 2 Third-Order Nonlinear Optics in Polar Materials.- 2.1 Introduction.- 2.2 Optical Nonlinearities.- 2.3 Cascaded Second-Order Nonlinearities X(2) : X(2).- 2.4 Nonlinear Optical Molecules.- 2.5 Nonlinear Optical Single Crystals.- 2.6 Discussion and Conclusion.- References.- 3 Second-Order Nonlinear Optical Organic Materials: Recent Developments.- 3.1 Nonlinear Optical and Electro-Optic Effects.- 3.2 Material Considerations.- 3.3 Organic Nonlinear Optical Molecules.- 3.4 Nonlinear and Electro-Optic Single Crystals and Polymers.- 3.5 Applications.- 3.6 Stability of Nonlinear and Electro-Optic Materials and Their Properties.- 3.7 Concluding Remarks and Outlook.- References.- 4 The Photorefractive Effect in Inorganic and Organic Materials.- 4.1 Photoinduced Changes of Optical Properties and Photorefractive Effect.- 4.2 Charge Transport in Inorganic and Organic Materials.- 4.3 Model Descriptions of the Photorefractive Effect and Photoassisted Orientational Grätings.- 4.4 Electro-Optic Response.- 4.5 Measurement Techniques.- 4.6 Applications.- 4.7 Materials.- 4.8 Conclusions.- References.- 5 Photorefractive Memories for Optical Processing.- 5.1 Volumetrie Optical Data Storage.- 5.2 Optical Pattern Recognition.- 5.3 Holographie Associative Memories.- 5.4 Photorefractive Materials as Volume Storage Media.- 5.5 Optical Correlators Using Photorefractive Crystals.- 5.6 All-optical Nonlinear Associative Memories.- 5.7 Summary.- References.- 6 Second-Harmonic Generation in Ferroelectric Waveguides.- 6.1 Second-Harmonic Generation in Waveguides: Basic Concepts.- 6.2 Ferroelectric Waveguides: Overview.- 6.3 Lithium Niobate Waveguides.- 6.4 Lithium Tantalate Waveguides.- 6.5 Potassium Titanyl Phosphate Waveguides.- 6.6 Potassium Niobate Waveguides.- 6.7Discussion and Concluding Remarks.- References.