Real-time pole and probe assessment of orientational processes in electro-optic polymers

The electro‐optic properties of polymer films are measured by an original technique whereby a periodic sequence of poling and probing steps permits alternation of the application of orientation and dephasing potentials. Relaxation dynamics of the electro‐optic coefficient of Red–Acid–Magly crosslinkable polymer films is studied as a function of the temperature of the samples. The time constant of the decay τ as measured at several temperatures is found to follow a Vogel–Fulcher–Tamann—Hesse dependence, for temperatures above glass transition. Poling the samples in the presence of a pulsed electric field leads to a r33 electro‐optic coefficient as high as 6 pm/V