Jarkko J. SAARINEN^*, Erik M. VARTIAINEN¹ and Kai-Erik PEIPONEN

Department of Physics, University of Joensuu, P.O. Box 111, FIN-80101 Joensuu, Finland
¹Department of Physics, Lappeenranta University of Technology, P.O. Box 20, FIN-53851 Lappeenranta, Finland

(Received October 2, 2002; Accepted January 16, 2003)

Nonlinear spectral properties of two different types of conjugated polymers (polythiophene PT10 and polysilane PDHS) with nanoscale TiO₂ particles forming a Maxwell Garnett or a Bruggeman composite are studied. According to the present simulations, it is possible both to enhance and to tailor the magnitude and the spectral properties, respectively, of the effective degenerate third-order nonlinear susceptibility of the composite. This is done simply by tuning the volume fraction of TiO₂ inclusions and by changing the topology of the composite.

Key words: Optical susceptibility, Polymers, and Composite materials

^*E-mail address: jarkko.saarinen@joensuu.fi