Photobleaching of polydiacetylene waveguides: A characterization of the process and patterning of optical elements

Poly-3-butoxycarbonylmethylurethane is a conjugated polymer with large third order nonlinear optical response. Photobleaching of poly-3-butoxycarbonylmethylurethane spun films by mean of a UV lamp and 488-nm laser light is characterized and modeled. The role of oxygen on the photobleaching process is discussed. Microoptic devices and holographic gratings are formed.