We present a method which allows the determination of the response time to
polarized light of an azobenzene side-chain polyester. This method is based
on the measurement of intensities in dependence on the delay time between
a pump and a probe pulse. The described method does not need a very sophist
icated time resolving measuring equipment. The time resolution is in the or
der 10 ps and is comparable with the laser pulse duration. The response tim
e of the azobenzene side-chain polyester E1aP has determined to be about 40
ps. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.