Side chain liquid crystalline polymeric media exhibiting third order nonlinear optical response

DETAILED DESCRIPTION What is claimed is: 1.
An optical light switch or light modulator device with a polymeric nonlinear optical component comprising a transparent solid medium of a liquid crystalline polymer which is characterized by a recurring monomeric unit corresponding to the formula: ##STR20## where P' is a main chain polymer unit; m is an integer of at least 10; S' is a flexible spacer group having a linear chain length of between about 1-25 atoms; X is --NR--, --O-- or --S--; R is hydrogen or a C.
sub.
1 -C.
sub.
4 alkyl group; Y is ##STR21## and Z is an electron-donating group or an electron-withdrawing group; and where the polymer has a glass transition temperature above about 40.
degree.
C.
; wherein the transparent nonlinear optical medium exhibits a third order nonlinear optical susceptibility .
chi.
.
sup.
(3) of at least about 1.
times.
10.
sup.
-11 esu as measured at 1.
91 .
mu.
m excitation wavelength, and the optical medium has an isotropic molecular configuration with macroscopic centrosymmetry.
2.
An optical light switch or light modulator device with a polymeric nonlinear optical component comprising a transparent solid medium of a liquid crystalline polymer which is characterized by a recurring monomeric unit corresponding to the formula: ##STR22## where n is an integer between about 4-20; X.
sup.
1 is --NR.
sup.
1 --, --O--, or --S--; R.
sup.
1 is hydrogen or methyl; Z.
sup.
1 is --NO.
sub.
2, --CN or --CF.
sub.
3 ; and where the polymer has a weight average molecular weight in the range between about 5000-200,000, and a glass transition temperature above about 40.
degree.
C.
; wherein the transparent nonlinear optical medium exhibits a third order nonlinear optical susceptibility .
chi.
.
sup.
(3) of at least about 1.
times.
10.
sup.
-11 esu as measured at 1.
91 .
mu.
m excitation wavelength, and the optical medium has an isotropic molecular configuration with macroscopic centrosymmetry.
3.
An optical light switch or light modulator device with a polymeric nonlinear optical component comprising a transparent solid medium of a liquid crystalline polymer which is characterized by a recurring monomeric unit corresponding to the formula: ##STR23## where n is an integer between about 4-20; X