Nonlinear Optics with Inhomogeneously Poled Polymers

The poling of polymers leads in general to inhomogeneous polarization distributions within the polymer film. A short review of common poling methods is given together with the resulting polarization distributions for the case of the ferroelectric polymer PVDF. It is shown that these polarization nonuniformities affect any nonlinear optical experiments based on second order nonlinearities. Second harmonic generation experiments are discussed which are able to show the polarization nonuniformities.