Nonlinear optical properties of an azobenzene polymer

The nonlinear optical properties of an azobenzene polymer azo12–MO were investigated by a Z-scan technique. The polymer was synthesized by assembling the liquid-crystalline polymer azo12 with methyl orange. The nonlinear refractive index (1.39×10^-15 cm²/W) and the nonlinear absorption coefficient (0.11 cm/GW) of azo12–MO were determined with 532-nm picosecond laser pulses at the irradiance of 92.40 GW/cm². When compared to the nonlinear properties of azo12 and methyl orange, azo12–MO possesses the advantages of its two constituents and shows larger nonlinear optical properties.