The realisation of optically pumped lasing devices using poly(p-phenylenevi
nylene) has intensified interest in the optical response of conjugated poly
mers on ultra-short time-scales and at high optical injection density. We d
escribe an investigation of these properties using time-resolved and time-i
ntegrated techniques. We demonstrate the importance of exciton-exciton anni
hilation at high injection densities and present evidence that this process
produces photo-induced absorption (PA) through the generation of charges.
We present a model which accounts for PA from both photoexcited singlet exc
itons and the charge pairs; generated by annihilation. This model describes
the time-evolution of the PA well and indicates that, in the presence-of e
xciton-exciton annihilation, dissimilar stimulated emission and PA dynamics
are consistent with a high quantum yield of excitons as deduced from PL li
fetime and efficiency studies.