Optically induced surface relief phenomena in azobenzene polymers

Azobenzene polymers and oligomers show intriguing surface relief features w hen irradiated with polarized laser light. We show through atomic force mic roscopic investigation of side-chain azobenzene polymers after irradiation through an amplitude mask that large peaks or trenches result depending on the architecture of the polymer. Extensive mass transport over long distanc es has been observed, paving the way for easy replication of nanostructures . We also show that it is possible to store microscopic images as topograph ic features in the polymers just through polarized light irradiation. (C) 1 999 American Institute of Physics. [S0003-6951(99)02104-X].