Nonlinear optical effects in electrets of polymers and sol-gel processed glass: polymer composites

In this review, a brief background is presented on photonics and nonlinear optical processes, the latter providing many of the operational functions for the photonics technology. Nonlinear-optical processes in polymeric electrets are discussed along with the structural requirements. New developments using sol-gel processed electrets of inorganic glass: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