Polarization storage by two-photon-induced anisotropy in bisazobenzene copolymer film

A copolymer containing bisazobenzene chromophores, poly[(methylmethacrylate)-co-4-{(2-methacryloyloxyethyl)oxy}-4′-(4-nitro-phenylazo)azobenzene)] (poly(MMA-co-M2BAN)), was synthesized and used for two-photon-induced polarization storage. Based on two-photon-induced optical anisotropy resulting from photoselective isomerization of bisazochromophores, the data have been recorded by linearly polarized Ti:Sapphire laser (wavelength: 800 nm, pulse duration: 80 fs, and repetition rate: 80 MHz) and read by reflection confocal laser scanning microscope. The recorded bits are dark dots when the polarization of the reading beam is parallel to the recording beam, but the recorded bits become bright dots when the polarization of the reading beam is perpendicular to the recording beam. Two letters can be encoded in the same region of a given layer by separating the two polarization directions of recording beams at an angle of 45°. The relationships between the readout intensity of the recorded bits and the recording power under two different readout modes were investigated and the results showed that there are two opposite change trends for parallel readout and perpendicular readout, respectively, and the readout threshold value is around 12 mW.