<title>Gamma-ray irradiation and responses of electrostatically assembled electro-optic polymer materials</title>

Abstract

Space radiation-induced effects and degradation in inorganic optical and electronic materials are well known and can severely limit mission effectiveness. The major radiation induced effects in commercially available optical materials are a reduction in the optical transmittance and changes to the refractive index. To avoid or mitigate the deleterious effects of radiation, new hardening approaches for developing new polymer materials is based on an electrostatic assembly (ESA) growth process. The ESA process is very amenable for allowing ease in the molecular engineering of photonic, optoelectronic, electronic and electro optic materials and devices. This paper reports the first observed data on the spectral transmission behavior of three new ESA grown electro optic modulator materials in the presence of gamma-rays. Pre- and post-irradiation data supports the contention that devices fabricated by the ESA growth processes are viable candidates for application in the natural space radiation environment.