title: Linear and nonlinear photoinduced deformations of cantilevers.
abstract: Glassy and elastomeric nematic networks with dye molecules present can be very responsive to illumination, huge reversible strains being possible. If absorption is appreciable, strain decreases with depth into a cantilever, leading to bend that is the basis of micro-opto-mechanical systems (MOMS). Bend actually occurs even when Beer's law suggests a tiny penetration of light into a heavily dye-doped system. We model the nonlinear opto-elastic processes behind this effect. In the regime of cantilever thickness giving optimal bending for a given incident light intensity, there are three neutral surfaces. In practice such nonlinear absorptive effects are very important since heavily doped systems are commonly used.
authors.affiliation: Cavendish Laboratory, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Corbett
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Warner