OPTICAL SWITCHING OF ERYTHROSINE B BASED POLY (METHACRYLATE) FILMS

Erythrosine B based poly (methacrylate) films with varying even number of methylene spacers have been prepared by the free radical polymerization method. All optical switching and beam deflection effects of polymer films have been investigated by using Nd :YAG laser (532 nm) as a pump beam and a He – Ne laser (632.8 nm) as a probe beam. The nonlinear refractive indices of polymer films are determined using the Z-scan technique. The optical switching and beam deflection effects are due to the change of the refractive index of polymer under the pump beam. The experimental results show that erythrosine B based poly (methacrylate) films have potential application in optical switching.