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 very high-speed electro-optic (EO) devices have been measured from 10 to 400 GHz. For all matrices, the index of refraction n is relatively low $\text{(1.3<n<2.0)}$ and has little dispersion up to at least 250 GHz. Upon including an EO chromophore into the host, n increases up to 15%. The dielectric loss tangent is small ${\text{(∼10}}^{\text{−4}})$ in most cases. Use of these properties to velocity match a guided millimeter wave mode with a guided optical mode will be discussed.