Millimeter-Wave Dielectric Properties of Electro-Optic Polymer Materials

The complex dielectric constant of several polymer matrix materials and chromophore molecules of potential use in high-speed electro-optic (E-O) devices have been measured from 10 to 400 GHz. For all matrices, the index of refraction n is relatively low (1/3 n 2.0) and has little dispersion up to at least 250 GHz. Upon including an E-O chromophore into the host, n increases up to 15%. The dielectric loss tangent is small (~10 sup -4) in most cases. Use of these properties to velocity match a guided a millimeter wave mode with a guided optical mode will be discussed.