Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 February 2011
Nonlinear optical phenomena have been investigated over the last three decades in many different materials and a great deal of progress has been made in both the basic science and device applications.(1] Although interest in nonlinear organic materials dates back to the early days of nonlinear optics, it is only in the last five years that progress has been sustained and rapid. The purpose of this paper is to examine progress in developing new nonlinear organic materials and in their application to devices for comparison with current state-of-the-art devices using other material systems.