Vectoral response under photo-excitation in amorphous chalcogenides and azobenzene polymer films: a comparison

The combination of different features of light-sensitive materials, such as amorphous chalcogenides and azobenzene polymers has been considered. A considerable amount of experimental data describing different aspects of photostimulated transformations reflected in the changes of optical and mechanical properties of the given materials has been analyzed. The main attention has been paid to polarization-dependent (vectoral) effects. Stimulated orientational changes and optomechanical effects of different kind have been discussed. The possibilities of application of the effects and phenomena under analysis, in particular all-optical patternings have been speculated.