Abstract: | An introduction to nonlinear optics (NLO) and the major challenges in the field of NLO-properties of polymeric materials, is given in this paper. Methods for the investigation of nonlinear optical properties of [4-(2-methacryloxyethyl)methylamino]-4′-cyanoazobenzene copolymers with methyl methacrylate (MMA) are demonstrated: Electric Field Induced Second Harmonic Generation (EFISHG), Hyper Rayleigh Scattering (HRS), Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) in floating monolayers and SHG in poled polymer films. An example of phase-transition analysis by SHG is given. |