Measurement of the electro-optic coefficient during the photoelectric-field assisted poling using a Mach-Zehnder interferometer

This work describes the experimental apparatus based on theMach-Zehnder interferometer formeasuring theelectro-optic coefficient during and after the photo-assisted poling process using a continuous light excitation. We also show that the poling can be performed at cryogenic temperatures. The setup is based on the superposition of aMach-Zehnder AC modulation voltage on theDC bias voltage required to promote the chromophore orientation during light excitation. Theeffect of the reversiblepolarization due to theDC bias voltage applied to thepolymer film is considered to calculate theelectro-optic coefficient during the photo-assisted poling process. The usefulness of our setup is demonstrated with threepolymer films, with differentelectro-optic activities: guest-host, copolymer, and homopolymer, all based on methyl methacrylatemonomers and containing disperse red-1 chromophores.

Source: Review of Scientific Instruments - December 6, 2016 Category: Physics Authors: Fl ávio M. Shimizu and José A. Giacometti Source Type: research