TY - JOUR
T1 - Pattern formation in homogeneous polymer solutions induced by a continuous-wave visible laser
AU - Sigel, R.
AU - Fytas, G.
AU - Vainos, N.
AU - Pispas, S.
AU - Hadjichristidis, N.
PY - 2002/7/5
Y1 - 2002/7/5
N2 - We report an unexpected nonphotothermal material organization induced by continuous-wave visible laser light at low power levels. This effect is observed along the laser beam propagation direction in fully transparent entangled solutions of common homopolymers featuring sufficiently high molecular mass and optical anisotropy along the chain backbone. The resulting formation of long-lived stringlike or dotlike patterns on the micrometer scale, probed by dark-field coherent imaging, depends on the molecular mass, architecture, solvent nature, and polymer concentration. Electrostrictive and alignment forces as well as chain cooperativity are responsible for the osmotic compression of the polymer solute. Subsequent waveguiding effects induce autoamplification and "pattern writing" upon prolonged illumination. This wave-medium coupling could potentially lead to photorefractive, microoptics, and nano-technology applications.
AB - We report an unexpected nonphotothermal material organization induced by continuous-wave visible laser light at low power levels. This effect is observed along the laser beam propagation direction in fully transparent entangled solutions of common homopolymers featuring sufficiently high molecular mass and optical anisotropy along the chain backbone. The resulting formation of long-lived stringlike or dotlike patterns on the micrometer scale, probed by dark-field coherent imaging, depends on the molecular mass, architecture, solvent nature, and polymer concentration. Electrostrictive and alignment forces as well as chain cooperativity are responsible for the osmotic compression of the polymer solute. Subsequent waveguiding effects induce autoamplification and "pattern writing" upon prolonged illumination. This wave-medium coupling could potentially lead to photorefractive, microoptics, and nano-technology applications.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0037025164&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1126/science.1071930
DO - 10.1126/science.1071930
M3 - Article
C2 - 12098691
AN - SCOPUS:0037025164
VL - 297
SP - 67
EP - 69
JO - Science (New York, N.Y.)
JF - Science (New York, N.Y.)
SN - 0036-8075
IS - 5578
ER -