Zero-birefringence polymer by the anisotropic molecule dope method

We propose using the anisotropic molecule dope method for synthesizing a ze ro-birefringence polymer that showed no orientational birefringence at any orientation degree of polymer chains. In this method a rodlike molecule wit h polarizability anisotropy was chosen to compensate orientational birefrin gence. The zero-birefringence polymer was synthesized by doping of 3-wt.% t rans-stilbene as an anisotropic molecule into poly(methyl methacrylate). Th e zero-birefringence at the 590-mn wavelength in the drawn film and the inj ection-molded plate made from the zero-birefringence polymer was confirmed by the rotating parallel nicols method. Furthermore, high transparency (37. 2 dB/km) of the zwero-birefringence polymer at the 633-nm wavelength was co nfirmed by the light-scattering measurement. (C) 2001 Optical Society of Am erica.