Polarization holography reveals the nature of the grating in polymers containing azo-dye

P. A. Blanche, Ph C. Lemaire, C. Maertens, P. Dubois, R. Jérôme

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

65 Scopus citations

Abstract

To study the origin of reversible holographic recording in three polymers containing the same azo-dye, we have measured the diffraction efficiency and analyzed the gratings characteristics for various writing beams polarizations. The amplitude of the holographic grating, as well as the ratio between index and absorption modulations, have been investigated by gratings shifting. The total amount of diffracted power and the diffraction efficiency versus the reading beam polarization has been measured by non-degenerated four waves mixing. These experiments have revealed that the molecular mechanisms of holographic recording in the studied compounds are different. The photoinduced orientation of the chromophores is predominant for C6-C11-DMNPAA; so, in C11-C6-DMNPAA (DMNPAA: 2,5-dimethyl-4-(p-nitrophenylazo)anisole), the refractive index variation comes from the presence of both trans and cis populations generated by photoisomerization. The behavior of the PVK:DMNPAA is included between these extreme cases since both phenomena act.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1-12
Number of pages12
JournalOptics Communications
Volume185
Issue number1-3
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1 2000
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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