Photorecording in the "isotropic smectic phase" of dyed side chain polymers

The "isotropic smectic" phase of chiral side chain polymers combines layere d liquid crystalline ordering with macroscopic transparency and low light s cattering without any pretreatment, thus providing considerable advantages for photo-optical applications. Photoinduced birefringence in that mesophas e of dye containing copolymers has been investigated. A novel LCPT (Light Controlled Phase Transition) photorecording technique h as been developed. The light intensity required for the method is as low as 0.3 mW/cm(2), and both writing and reading of the image can be performed b y nonpolarized light.