Crystalline Organic Films for Optical Applications

Cells that contain thin, single-crystal films of photoresponsive organic materials [e.g., meta-nitroaniline (m-NA)] have been invented for use as nonlinear optics and especially as second-harmonic generators. In comparison with crystals of potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP) that have been used previously in such applications, the crystals of this invention are smaller and are capable of producing second harmonics of input light at lower input power levels.