Nonlinear Optical Effects in Polymeric Azoesters

The new photochromic polymers based on methacrylic azoesters were synthesized. The azobenzene side chains of obtained polymers contain different groups of both acceptor and donor nature as well as flexible alkyl spacer. The third order nonlinear optical susceptibilities (χ<3>) of the studied solutions were measured by degenerating four wave mixing (DFWM) method. As a result, the enhancement of the molecular conjugation and the high NLO chromophore concentration in the molecular chain contribute much to heightening the third-order NLO effect. The electronic effect of the substituent on the azobenzol group and the push–pull electronic structure contributes much to enhancing the NLO property.