Grand Séminaire d'Institut

Vendredi 3 Mars 2017 à 11h00.

Paradigm changes in molecular second-order nonlinear optics

''We will review how experimental instrumentation has been determining and limiting the molecular scope for nonlinear optics. Hyper-Rayleigh scattering, or incoherent second-order nonlinear light scattering, is the only characterisation technique in molecular second-order nonlinear optics that is not restricted to a particular type of species (e.g., neutral, or dipolar). It has therefore become indispensable in the study of the opto-electronic properties of the new, more elaborated, specifically designed, molecular materials with alternative (e.g. octopolar) symmetries or reversible redox activity (implying charged species), towards stable molecular switches. We will present an overview of the experimental intricacies in the time, frequency and spectral domain, and a molecular pallette of succesful design strategies towards large optical nonlinearities, often based on transition metal complexes and large 2D-conjugated materials.''