PHOTOOXIDATION IN THE PHOTOBLEACHING PROCESS OF A NONLINEAR-OPTICAL POLYMER

The photobleaching process of an electro-optic polymer, a PMMA-based s ide-chain polymer with the non-linear optic (NLO) chromophore DANS, ha s been investigated with irradiation only, with poling only, and with both irradiation and poling in that order or in the reverse order. The photobleaching was carried out using the near-UV lines. FTIR spectra and UV-Vis absorption spectra were obtained after each irradiation. Re fractive indices and electro-optic coefficients were measured in the p hotobleaching processes. The results suggest that the photobleaching p rocesses result from the photo-oxidation of the NLO polymer.