A phenomenological model for photoinduced orientation mechanism in dye
d polymers was recently proposed. Based on essential observable parame
ters, we develop here a simplified resolution which permits the deriva
tion of an analytical dependence for the photoinduced second-order sus
ceptibility. It shows that optimization of the all-optical poling effi
ciency must be treated not only in terms of nonlinear optics but also
in terms of chemical physics and dynamics. Optimization of the poling
dynamics involves key seeding parameters such as writing beam energies
and matrix rigidity. Experiments performed in polymethylmethacrylate
grafted or doped with Disperse Red 1 are used to verify the model. The
two key parameters are the competing spontaneous and photoinduced ori
entation diffusion rates. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.