A new type of side group copolymethacrylates was synthesized, characte
rized and tested with respect to its behavior on irradiation with an A
r+-laser beam. The side groups consist of methylene spacer units with
different length and of three-ring mesogens with an ester group betwee
n the first and the second aromatic ring and on the other hand of two-
ring mesogens with an ate-structure between the aromatic rings, respec
tively. The azochromophoric structure contains different substituents
in the terminal aromatic ring. The homopolymers of the ate-dye contain
ing monomers do not display liquid crystalline (lc) mesophases, but th
e three-ring mesogens induce lc-phases in opposition to the equimolari
c copolymers with two-ring ester group mesogens. The lc phases are imp
ortant for the stability of the recorded change of birefringence (phot
orecording process) which is influenced by irradiation of the polymers
.