An optical component made of synthetic quartz glass includes a glass structure substantially free of oxygen defect sites and having a hydrogen content of 0.1×10.sup.16 to 1.0×10.sup.18 molecules/cm.sup.3, an SiH group content of less than 2×10.sup.17 molecules/cm.sup.3, a hydroxyl group content of 0.1 to 100 wt. ppm, and an Active temperature of less than 1070° C. The optical component undergoes a laser-induced change in the refractive index in response to irradiation by a radiation with a wavelength of 193 nm using 5×10.sup.9 pulses with a pulse width of 125 ns and a respective energy density of 500 μJ/cm.sup.2 at a pulse repetition frequency of 2000 Hz. The change totals a first measured value M.sub.193 nm when measured using the applied wavelength of 193 nm and a second measured value M.sub.633 nm when measured using a measured wavelength of 633 nm. The ratio M.sub.193 nm/M.sub.633 nm is less than 1.7.

Disclosed is a stretched optical compensation film which is a phase difference film containing a cellulose-based resin and having excellent optical properties. The stretched optical compensation film of the present invention contains 0.5 to 30 parts by mass of a β-diketone compound represented by Formula (I) with respect to 100 parts by mass of the cellulose-based resin. Positions R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 each independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which is optionally substituted, an arylalkyl group having 7 to 20 carbon atoms which is optionally substituted or an aryl group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms which is optionally substituted. Position R.sub.3 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms. ##STR00001##

A method of grinding a semiconductor nanocrystal-polymer composite, the method including obtaining a semiconductor nanocrystal-polymer composite including a semiconductor nanocrystal and a first polymer, contacting the semiconductor nanocrystal-polymer composite with an inert organic solvent; and grinding the semiconductor nanocrystal-polymer composite in the presence of the inert organic solvent to grind the semiconductor nanocrystal-polymer composite.

There is provided an organic nonlinear optical material including a polymer binder and a compound represented by the following Formula (I): ##STR00001## wherein, in Formula (I), R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 each independently represent a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group; R.sub.3 represents a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group; and L represents a divalent linking group connecting a nitrogen atom and an oxopyrroline ring having a dicyanomethylidene group in a π-conjugated system containing an azo group (—N═N—).

Disclosed is a non-linear optical crystal containing pyridinium represented by the following Formula (1), 4-substituted phenylsulfonate represented by the following Formula (2a), and 2,4,6-substituted phenylsulfonate represented by the following Formula (2b).

##STR00001##

A method of poling an organic polymeric electro-optic material. The method includes doping the organic polymeric electro-optic material with nanoparticles. The method also includes heating the organic polymeric electro-optic material to a poling temperature. The method also includes poling the organic polymeric electro-optic material by applying an electric field across the organic polymeric electro-optic material.

Materials and objects tagged with wavelength selective particles such as SERS nanotags modified for wavelength selectivity. As used herein, a wavelength selective particle is one which cannot be effectively excited or interrogated at one or more wavelengths where a reporter molecule associated with the particle would normally produce a spectrum. Also disclosed are methods of manufacturing wavelength selective particles and methods of tagging materials or objects with wavelength selective particles.

Hydrogels that degrade under appropriate conditions of pH and temperature by virtue of crosslinking compounds that cleave through an elimination reaction are described. The hydrogels may be used for delivery of various agents, such as pharmaceuticals.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel electro-optic polymer. Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel electro-optic polymer with a low alicyclic methacrylate monomer content. The polymer according to the present invention is a polymer comprising (a) a base polymer having a reactive group (A), (b) an electro-optic molecule having a plurality of reactive groups (B), and a bond (C) formed by reaction of the reactive group (A) with the plurality of reactive groups (B), the bond (C) being at least one type of bond selected from the group consisting of a (thio)ester bond, a (thio)urethane bond, a (thio)urea bond and a (thio)amide bond.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel electro-optic polymer. Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel electro-optic polymer with a low alicyclic methacrylate monomer content. The polymer according to the present invention is a polymer comprising (a) a base polymer having a reactive group (A), (b) an electro-optic molecule having a plurality of reactive groups (B), and a bond (C) formed by reaction of the reactive group (A) with the plurality of reactive groups (B), the bond (C) being at least one type of bond selected from the group consisting of a (thio)ester bond, a (thio)urethane bond, a (thio)urea bond and a (thio)amide bond.