Light-induced optical activity in optically ordered amorphous side-chain azobenzene containing polymer

Authors
Ivanov, M Naydenova, I Todorov, T Nikolova, L Petrova, T Tomova, N Dragostinova, V
Citation
M. Ivanov et al., Light-induced optical activity in optically ordered amorphous side-chain azobenzene containing polymer, J MOD OPT, 47(5), 2000, pp. 861-867
Citations number
9
Categorie Soggetti
Apllied Physucs/Condensed Matter/Materiales Science","Optics & Acoustics
Journal title
JOURNAL OF MODERN OPTICS
ISSN journal
09500340 → ACNP
Volume
47
Issue
5
Year of publication
2000
Pages
861 - 867
Database
ISI
SICI code
0950-0340(20000415)47:5<861:LOAIOO>2.0.ZU;2-H
Abstract
We report the appearance of circular birefringence (optical activity) in am orphous side-chain azobenzene polymer films on illumination with circularly polarized light. The effect is observed only if an optical axis is previou sly created in the film with the help of linearly polarized light. The phot oinduced optical activity is believed to be due to changes in the polymer s tructure initiated by a circular momentum transfer from the circularly pola rized light to the azobenzene chromophores.