Efficient nonlinear optical ferroelectric liquid crystals for integrated optics devices

(Received 9 July 1993, accepted 19 November 1993)

Abstract
The linear electro-optical effect of a novel ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) with exceptionally large and stable second order nonlinear optical (nlo) response ( d₂₂ = 5 pm/V) is investigated. The electro-optical coefficients r_IJ are compared with the corresponding nlo coefficients d_JI. It is shown that the electro-optical effect is mainly of electronic origin. This indicates that molecular motions of the nlo-FLC are negligible below its glass transition temperature. Moreover, waveguiding in planar short pitch bistable ferroelectric (SBF) configurations comprising the new nlo-FLC material is demonstrated.