Electro-optic measurements of tolane-based polymeric phase modulators

With a new nonlinear-optical polymer, electro-optic phase modulators have been designed, constructed, and operated at a wavelength of 1.32,μm. A large electro-optic coefficient, r33, of 26 pm/V was achieved with electrode poling. The polymer, poly(methyl methacrylate)-nitroamino tolane (PMMA-NAT), contained 43 mer. % of the nonlinear-optical chromophore attached as a side chain. A heterodyne detection system was used both to determine the electro-optic coefficients of the poled polymer and to demonstrate the transmission of multiple television signals on an optical carrier. Other optical properties of PMMA-NAT, such as the dispersion in the index of refraction and in the electro-optic coefficient, are also reported. © 1994 Optical Society of America.