NONLINEAR-OPTICAL SIDE-CHAIN POLYMER WITH HIGH THERMAL-STABILITY AND ITS PYROELECTRIC THERMAL-ANALYSIS

Stable polymers with nonlinear optical side groups were synthesized fr om maleic anhydride copolymers and the azo dye Disperse Red 1 via este rification. After electrode poling under 135 V/mum at 185-degrees-C, t hermal stabilities were measured by pyroelectric and electro-optic the rmal analysis and compared to a guest/host polymer of polymethylmethac rylate and the same dye. The pyroelectrically detected dipole orientat ion and the electro-optic activity of the side-chain polymers decrease d only above 150-degrees-C, and electro-optic r33 coefficients of up t o 6 pm/V were achieved at 780 nm even without optimizing the dye conte nt.