Light-induced random-walk motion in azo-polymers

We propose a model which accounts for the light-induced mass motion of polymers with azobenzene functions. To assess the implications of the model, we perform real-time AFM measurements of the deformation of such polymer layers under the effect of green laser light. itative confrontation of the model with the experimental facts is quite satisfying. However, a quantitative approach displays that the model needs to be enriched with two other parameters : the influence of light polarization direction and the bleaching process. These two elements can easily be introduced into the model.