Spectral broadening measurements in poly (phenylene vinylene) polymer channel waveguides

In a polyconjugated main chain polymer strip waveguide the nonlinear, nonresonant refractive index n2 was measured by monitoring the signal spectrum broadening due to self-phase modulation. The two photon absorption coefficient alpha 2 was obtained by calibrating the inverse transmission measurement. The nonlinear coefficients were determined to be n2=0.85*10-14 cm-2/W and alpha 2=0.08 cm/GW at a wavelength lambda =885.6 nm. The used polymer was poly[1,4-phenylene-1,2-di(phenoxyphenyl)vinylene]. The result is in good agreement with interferometer measurements. The material is suitable for all-optical switching.