The growth and decay processes of optically induced birefringence in two novel azobenzene compounds [one as a hyperbranched poly(aryl ether) containing azobenzene groups, and the other was a hydrogen-bonded complex] were studied. The temperature dependence of the birefringence signal was investigated. The curves for the buildup and decay of birefringence fit well to biexponential functions. The dependence of the fitting parameters on the temperature is also discussed. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 117: 2069-2074, 2010