3A12 Polarization Gratings in Polymer Azobenzene Liquid Crystals Based on Photoinduced Alignment Change

Abstract

Polarization grating was formed in side-chain azobenzene liquid crystal films. Two orthogonally crossed linearly polarized beams of Ar^+ laser at 488 nm were interfered in the film, and the intensity of the first order diffraction light of a He-Ne laser beam at 633 nm was measured. The diffracted light appeared due to the formation of polarization grating. After irradiation the formation of polarization grating was confirmed by polarizing optical microscopy and AFM.