Photodynamics of stress in clamped nematic elastomers
arXiv:1303.6610 · doi:10.1103/PhysRevE.87.062503
Abstract
We describe the complex time-dependence of the build up of force exerted by a clamped photo-elastomer under illumination. Nonlinear (non-Beer) absorption leads to a bleaching wave of a significant cis isomer dye concentration deeply penetrating the solid with a highly characteristic dynamics. We fit our experimental response at one temperature to obtain material parameters. Force-time data can be matched at all other temperatures with no fitting required -- our model provides a universal description of this unusual dynamics. The description is unambiguous since these are clamped systems where gross polymer motion is suppressed as a possible source of anomalous dynamics. Future experiments are suggested.
7 pages, 5 figures