Nonlinear optics is a topic of much current interest that exhibits a great diversity. Some publications on the subject are clearly physics, while others reveal an engineering bias; some appear to be accessible to the chemist, while others may appeal to biological understanding. Yet all purport to be non linear optics so where is the underlying unity? The answer is that the unity lies in the phenomena and the devices that exploit them, while the diversity lies in the materials used to express the phenomena. This book is an attempt to show this unity in diversity by bringing together contributions covering an unusually wide range of materials, preceded by accounts of the main phenomena and important devices. Because ofthe diversity, individual materials are treated in separate chapters by different expert authors, while as editors we have shouldered the task of providing the unifying initial chapters. Most main classes of nonlinear optical solids are treated: semiconductors, glasses, ferroelectrics, molecular crystals, polymers, and Langmuir-Blodgett films. (However, liquid crystals are not covered. ) Each class of material is enough for a monograph in itself, and this book is designed to be an introduction suitable for graduate students and those in industry entering the area of nonlinear optics. It is also suitable in parts for final-year undergraduates on project work. It aims to provide a bridge between traditional fields of expertise and the broader field of nonlinear optics."

Nonlinear optics is attracting attention because of its applications in telecommunications and its possibilities for optical computing. Optoelectronics has been singled out by many as being of considerable strategic importance. Optical fibre communications shows that optics is already a method of choice; nonlinear optics offers further improvements in efficiency and versatility. Textbooks on nonlinear optics are readily available, concentrating on phenomena and devices rather than on the materials. Materials for nonlinear optics have developed considerably, with novel semiconductor structures and organics attracting much attention. These too are treated in a variety of books, at a research level. To take advantage of these newer materials, those who use nonlinear optics may need a source of information on the materials available and their special characteristics. At the same time, materials specialists entering the field of nonlinear optics may need a source of information on the general features of nonlinear optics. Nonlinear optics also now forms part of a number of degree and Masters level programmes. This book is written as an overview of the subject for users of these materials, graduate level courses and those entering research in this area. Chapters cover individual classes of materials and try to provide an authoritative but approachable summary of the characteristics of each class, with emphasis on the advantages offered for applications in nonlinear optics. To ensure that the book is accessible to those not conversant with nonlinear optics, introductory chapters outline the principle nonlinear optical phenomena and how these are exploited in device configurations.