Effect of acidity on the polarization sensitivity of azo-indicator based recording media

This is an experimental study of the photoanisotropic gyrotropic properties of recording media based on azoindicators — homologs (five dyes) of methyl orange-- introduced into the polymer matrix. Samples were prepared by a technology we have developed employing solvents with different acidities (pH 1.68–12.48). The samples were exposed to actinic radiation (λ = 488 nm) from an argon laser, and the photoinduced anisotropy measured in real time. The circular dichroism and circular birefringence in the layers under study are calculated for a neutral medium and at different pH levels.