MEAN-FIELD THEORY OF PHOTOINDUCED FORMATION OF SURFACE RELIEFS IN SIDE-CHAIN AZOBENZENE POLYMERS

A mean-field model of photoinduced surface reliefs in dye containing s ide-chain polymers is presented. It is demonstrated that photoinduced ordering of dye molecules subject to anisotropic intermolecular intera ctions leads to mass transport even when the intensity of the incident light is spatially uniform. Theoretical profiles are obtained using a simple variational method and excellent agreement with experimental s urface reliefs recorded under various polarization configurations is f ound. The polarization dependence of both period and shape of the prof iles is correctly reproduced by the model.