Holographic recording in photochrome-chalcogenide composites

  • A. Gerbreders
  • J. Aleksejeva
  • A. Danilovs
  • J. Teteris

Abstract

The method of preparation of thin triple composite films of organic polymer-chalcogenide-photochromes is described, and some features of photo induced changes of optical properties and holographic recording in this system are studied. Films of composite were obtained from solutions of arsenic sulphide and organic polymers, such as “Disperbyk” (produced by BYK-Chemie GmbH) and polyvinylacetate in organic solvents. The azobenzene DR-1 and spiropyran solutions were added in this mixture. The films were obtained by casting the material on glass or quartz substrate. The dry film thickness was in the range of 3–10 μm. The changes of absorption spectra of the films induced by UV (248, 325, and 375 nm) laser light were studied and analysed. The holographic recording of diffraction gratings was performed by different laser lines (325, 442, and 532 nm). During recording the diffraction efficiency was measured simultaneously in transmission and reflection mode. The formation of relief on the film surface was observed and the profile of the gratings was analysed by atomic force microscope. The influence of photoisomerization and photo induced mass transport on the surface-relief formation process has been discussed. Keywords: arsenic sulphide, Disperse Red 1, spiropyran, polymer-photochrome composite, polymer-photochrome-chalcogenide composite, holographic grating
Published
2010-01-01
Section
Nonlinear and Coherent Optics