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Abstract

An optical waveguide for transmitting light energy is defined by a glass capillary with a core of noncentrosymmetric non-linear optical polymer which has been poled to induce a stable axial alignment of molecules therein. Changes in refractive index of the polymer are induced by an applied electric field. In a preferred embodiment, the waveguide is used as an electric field sensor and may form an arm of a Mach-Zender interferometer. The device is adapted to modulate waveguided electromagnetic energy by a change in refractive index proportional to the applied electric field. In a further embodiment, the birefringent properties of the polymer are used to cause polarized light energy transmitted by the waveguide to undergo a change in polarization, which, when intercepted by a polarization sensitive analyzer, provides an amplitude modulation of the transmitted light energy.

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First Claim