Role of Light Polarization in the Optothermal Effect

It is shown that the highest optothermal effect in low-intensity irradiation is attained on chromophores of stationary orientation exposed to irradiation by a linearly polarized light. For chromophores with stochastization of orientation between the events of light absorption, the magnitude of the optothermal effect is independent of polarization and is three times lower than in stationary orientation. In anisotropic media, an optimally oriented linearly polarized light is more efficient.