Optically induced and erased birefringence and dichroism in azoaromatic polymers

Abstract
Dichroism and birefringence are shown to be optically induced and erased in high-glass-transition azoaromatic polymers. The resulting polarization information is easily detected and exhibits long-term stability. This optically induced reorientation of the azoaromatic molecules will have wide applications in image recording and in electro-optical devices.