We will present some of our recent work on the theoretical characterization of the nonlinear optical properties of ?-conjugated materials. In particular, we will focus on the use of cyanine derivatives for all-optical switching (AOS) applications; AOS requires materials with large third-order optical nonlinearities and low nonlinear optical losses [1]. We will first provide a quantum-chemical description of the real and imaginary nonlinear optical properties of relevant polymethine-type molecules [2]. We will then discuss the strategies that need to be followed in order to translate the properties of the isolated molecules into the solid state [3] and describe some recent very promising examples.This work has been performed in the framework of the AFOSR MURI program (Award FA9550-10-1-0558). References [1] J.M. Hales et al., Science 327, 1485 (2010).[2] R. Gieseking et al., Advanced Materials, in press (2013).[3] S. Mukhopadhyay et al., Chemical Science 3, 3103 (2012); J. M. Hales et al., Chemistry of Materials, in press (2013).

Nonlinear optical applications of conjugated materials: Polymethine dyes for all-optical switching applications

247th National Meeting (2014)

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