Current Limitations and Future Opportunities for Nonlinear Optical Materials

Many different material systems are currently being investigated for high-speed photonic switching and for parallel optical information processing. These include ferroelectric crystals, ceramics, organic polymers, glasses and semiconductors. The relative advantage of these materials will be discussed with particular emphasis on their potential for practical application. Future directions to improve material parameters by means of resonant enhancement, quantum confinement, microstructures and composites will be discussed.