Polymer that exhibits an optical effect brought about by electromagnetic radiation
such that the magnitude of the effect is not proportional to the irradiance.
Notes:
-
- An example of non-linear optical effects is the generation of higher harmonics of
the incident light wave.
- A polymer that exhibits a non-linear optical effect due to anisotropic electric susceptibilities when subjected to electric field together
with light irradiation is called an electro-optical polymer. A polymer that exhibits electro-optical behavior
combined with photoconductivity is called a photo-refractive polymer.
Source:
PAC, 2004, 76, 889
(Definitions of terms relating to reactions of polymers and to functional polymeric
materials (IUPAC Recommendations 2003))
on page 900