Quantum-rod dispersed photopolymers for multi-dimensional photonic applications

Nanocrystal quantum rods (QRs) have been identified as an important potential key to future photonic devices because of their unique two-photon (2P) excitation, large 2P absorption cross section and polarization sensitivity. 2P excitation in a conventional solid photosensitive medium has driven all-optical devices towards three-dimensional (3D) platform architectures such as 3D photonic crystals, optical circuits and optical memory. The development of a QR-sensitized medium should allow for a polarization-dependent change in refractive index. Such a localized polarization control inside the focus can confine the light not only in 3D but also in additional polarization domain. Here we report on the first 2P absorption excitation of QR-dispersed photopolymers and its application to the fabrication of polarization switched waveguides, multi-dimensional optical patterning and optical memory. This fabrication was achieved by a 2P excited energy transfer process between QRs and azo dyes which facilitated 3D localized polarization sensitivity resulting in the control of light in four dimensions. (c) 2009 Optical Society of America