Abstract: | The nonlinear susceptibilities (χ(2)33, χ(2)31), and the refractive index anisotropy, of a main chain accordion polymer, BCSC (see the text for the complete chemical formula), have been measured by the techniques of second harmonic generation (SHG) and waveguiding. A large birefringence, which is induced in the BCSC film by the spin-coating process, is almost removed by electric field poling. Our results demonstrate the fundamental difference between the birefringence associated with quadrupolar orientational order and the dipolar order associated with SHG. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. |