Systematic behavior of electro-optic chromophore photostability

The wavelength dependence of the one-photon absorption-induced photodegradation rate has been measured from the visible to the near IR for a variety of electro-optic chromophore-doped polymers. Systematic behavior is identified. The lifetime of the electro-optic activity is found to increase exponentially over 4-6 orders of magnitude for wavelengths ranging from peak of absorption, typically in the visible, to ~1000 nm. Many popular chromophores developed for electro-optics over the past 10 years are compared.