Depth profiles and stability of polarization in electron-beam poled nonlinear optical polymers

An electron-beam method is used for the poling of two nonlinear optical polymers, namely a guest-host material, Disperse Red 1/Poly (methyl methacrylate) and a side-chain polymer based on a styrene-co-maleic-anhydride polymer and Disperse Red 1 chromophore side groups. Details of the poling process are reported together with results from laser-induced pressure-pulse (LIPP) polarization-profile scans. Results of thermally stimulated current (TSC) measurements are also discussed. An evaluation of the experimental data shows that under the present experimental conditions, only the guest-host polymer can be poled while the side-chain polymer shows a space charge but no polarization.