Trans-cis-trans Photoisomerization as an All-Optical Switching in Azodye Doped Polymer Waveguide

摘要

In this paper we present our studies of optical switching process in planar azo-dye Methyl Red doped polymeric waveguides by using an Ar ion laser (488 nm) as pump beam and a He-Ne laser (633) as probe beam. The effects of different parameters on optical switching process and effects of probe and pump beams on absorption spectrum of sample were studied experimentally. The switching process is attributed to trans-cis photoisomerization of azodyes followed by cis-trans thermal or optical relaxation that induces a reversible birefringence and dichroism in dye-doped polymeric waveguides when pumped with polarized light.