Enhancement of photorefractive effect in the isotropic phase of liquid crystalline polymers

The photorefractive effect of the isotropic phase of liquid crystalline pol ymers was investigated. A large photorefractivity was observed in polymers which exhibit a liquid crystalline phase even though they were in the isotr opic phase. The photorefractivity was compared between the liquid crystalli ne polymers and amorphous polymers. The photorefractive effect was found to be significantly enhanced in the isotropic phase of the liquid crystalline polymers compared to that of the amorphous polymer, with almost the same m olecular structure.