Computer simulation of photoinduced helical structure formation on azobenzene-containing materials

Abstract

Theoretical models for photoinduced birefringence and chiral structure formation in achiral azobenzene-containing materials were proposed considering phototriggered molecular reorientation via trans-cis-trans photoisomerization cycles of azobenzene. The photoisomerization cycles were expressed by two rate equations of the orientation distributions of trans- and cis-forms. Phototriggered molecular reorientation by illuminating linearly polarized light was verified theoretically. The photoinduced helical structure formation was simualted by elliptically polarized light. The molecular rotation angle was dependent on the sign of the ellipticity. The time evolution of the helical structure formation was consistent with the experimental result that reported by other papers.