Nonlinear optical effects in polymer electrets and sol-gel processed glass

Photonics has been labeled by many as the technology for the 21st century. Polymers have emerged as an important class of materials for applications in photonics. In this review, a brief background is presented on photonics and nonlinear optical processes, the latter providing many of the operational functions for photonics technology. Nonlinear optical processes in polymeric electrets are discussed, along with the needed structural requirements. New developments using sol-gel processed electrets of inorganic glass and polymer composites for nonlinear optics are discussed. Femtosecond Kerr optical gate studies in the composite films have been successfully completed. Also, results are presented on novel polymeric photorefractive materials