Molecular Geometry and Nonlinear Optics

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 263; no. 5146; pp. 487 - 488
• Main Author: BREDAS, J. L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Society for the Advancement of Science 28.01.1994; American Association for the Advancement of Science; The American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Subjects: Atomic and molecular physics; Attachment behavior; Chemical bonding; Conductivity; Conformation (statistics and dynamics); Electric fields; Electronic structure; Exact sciences and technology; Feedback (Response); Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); General molecular conformation and symmetry; stereochemistry; Geometry; Light; Macromolecules and polymer molecules; Molecular evolution; Molecular Structure; Nonlinear optics; Optical materials; Optical properties; Optics; Organic Chemistry; Other nonlinear optical materials; photorefractive and semiconductor materials; Personality; Perspectives; Physics; Polyenes; Polymers; Polymers and organics; Reaction Time; Studies of special atoms, molecules and their ions; clusters; Aromatics; Amines; Molecular structure; Nitrogen heterocycle; Polyenes; Optical materials; Aldehydes; Conjugated compound; Nonlinear optics; Pi electron system; Lactones
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.263.5146.487

A team led by Seth Marder has synthesized some highly nonlinear optical materials for use in data storage by manipulating the molecular geometry of the compounds. The materials are pi-conjugated organic compounds, rather than the traditional ferroelectric inorganics.