Non-linear optical polymers for photorefractive applications

Photorefractive materials can be used to record and erase holograms many times without the need for chemical processing. This places photorefractive materials at the cutting edge for use in updatable holographic display applications. This feature article reviews the basic principles of polymer photorefractivity and the properties of a newly developed bis-triarylamine side-chain photorefractive polymer sensitive at visible and near-infrared wavelengths. The photorefractive composites developed using this polymer exhibit stable dynamic properties under continuous operation combined with video-rate compatible dynamics, and long shelf lifetimes. Recent improvements in the polymer compositions have led to the development of an updateable holographic 3D display, capable of recording and displaying new images every few minutes.