Degenerate four wave mixing in polydiacetylene waveguides

Abstract

Degenerate four wave mixing of light at 1.055 μn guided in poly[4,6-decadiyne-1,10 diol bis(n-butoxycarbonylmethylurethane)] planar waveguides has been observed. Diffraction efficiencies of up to 24% have been obtained, with a laser peak power of 2 W. Approximately 50% of the nonlinear mechanism can be attributed to the ultrafast molecular hyperpolarisability of the polymer.