Diffraction of an ultrashort pulsed beam with arbitrary polarization state from a volume holographic grating in LiNbO3 crystals

Based on a modified coupled wave theory of Kogelnik, we have studied the diffraction of an ultrashort pulsed beam with an arbitrary polarization state from a volume holographic grating in photorefractive LiNbO₃ crystals. The results indicate that the diffracted intensity distributions in the spectral and temporal domains and the diffraction efficiency of the grating are both changed by the polarization state and spectral bandwidth of the input pulsed beam. A method is given of choosing the grating parameters and input conditions to obtain a large variation range of the spectral bandwidth of the diffracted pulsed beam with an appropriate diffraction efficiency. Our study presents a possibility of using a volume holographic grating recorded in anisotropic materials to shape a broadband ultrashort pulsed beam by modulating its polarization state.     

透射型光折变体全息光栅对超短脉冲激光光束衍射的特性

在Kogelnik耦合波理论的基础上,考虑光栅记录介质的色散效应的影响,研究了光折变体全息光栅对不同偏振状态的超短脉冲激光光束衍射的性质,讨论了高斯型入射脉冲激光光束的谱宽与光栅的有效衍射谱宽之比不同时,衍射和透射光束的光谱宽度、时间宽度、波形和衍射效率的变化。结果表明,光栅的有效衍射谱宽受光栅参量及入射条件的影响,对衍射性质的影响很大,且在考虑光栅记录介质的色散效应时减小。当入射脉冲的偏振方向垂直于入射面时,光栅的有效衍射谱宽大于偏振方向平行于入射面的情形,衍射效率在入射脉冲宽度较大时小于偏振方向平行于入射面的情形;谱宽比较大时,衍射光束的时间分布曲线产生展宽和变形,且比偏振方向平行于入射面的情形展宽和变形得更加明显。     

Peculiarities of spontaneous grating generation in light-sensitive waveguide layers during holographic grating formation

The generation of spontaneous (noise) gratings during the simultaneous formation of a holographic grating in thin (on the order of the cutoff thickness of the TE₀ waveguide mode) AgCl-Ag films by two laser beams with λ = 532 nm and polarization vectors that make an angle of 45° with the plane of incidence have been studied. The electron microscopy images and diffraction patterns have revealed a significant difference of the spontaneous-grating structure from the structure obtained under irradiation by one laser beam. The spontaneous gratings have a significant spread in the directions of their wave vector, and the diffraction pattern (recorded using a probe beam with λ = 337 nm) has the form of a bundle of diverging arcs that intersect at one point. This difference is caused by self-diffraction from the holographic grating, which is responsible for the main diffraction peaks with odd orders, the growth of spontaneous gratings because of the interference of the beams diffracted by the holographic grating with the waveguide TE₀ modes scattered in the film, and silver transport to the interference minima. The diffraction patterns are quantitatively analyzed and the period of the new (formed under two-beam irradiation) spontaneous gratings is calculated. The calculation results are in good agreement with the experimental data.     

Ce:KNSBN光折变晶体光栅衍射特性研究

研究了Ce:KNSBN光折变晶体两波耦合作用写入体光栅的衍射效率与写入光偏振态和光强比的关系, 分析了写入光偏振态造成光栅衍射效率差别的原因, 并用修正耦合波理论对实验结果进行了拟合。 实验结果为Ce:KNSBN晶体在全息记录和光学信息处理领域的应用提供了依据。     

Polarization conversions of diffractive wave plates based on orthogonal circular-polarization holography

A polarization holographic grating, which integrates the functions of a grating and a wave plate and is called a diffractive wave plate, is recorded by two beams(left and right circularly polarized) of a 532 nm laser in an azo polymer with a liquid-crystal structure. The polarization conversion characteristics of the diffractive wave plates are investigated with a detecting light of 650 nm by metering the polarization state of first-order diffracted light.It is confirmed that the diffractive wave plates convert the incident linear polarization into circular polarization for a linearly polarized probe laser and reverse the sense of rotation of the circular polarization when the detecting light is circularly polarized light.     

偶氮液晶聚合物薄膜的二维偏振全息记录

利用偏振全息记录的方法在一种含偶氮侧链的液晶聚合物薄膜中写入了二维偏振光栅.实验采用两束正交偏振的532 nm线偏光作为写入光,在样品同一点上分别记录了相互垂直的两个一维偏振光栅,继而对所构成的二维偏振光栅的特性进行了研究.实验结果表明：二维光栅的衍射效率比一维光栅低,其偏振特性是两个一维光栅元特性的叠加;二维光栅衍射效率对入射光偏振态的依赖性和光栅的偏振转换性质来源于材料中线双折射和圆双折射的共同作用. 关键词： 偏振全息 二维光栅 偶氮液晶聚合物     

偏振敏感材料中具有圆各向异性的偏振全息光栅

在向列相液晶中掺杂质量分数约0.2%的偶氮侧链型聚合物制成偏振敏感材料,使用正交圆偏振光记录了具有圆各向异性的一维偏振全息光栅,用线偏振光探测偏振全息光栅,得到正,负一级衍射光也为线偏振光,且偏振态与探测光和零级偏振态相互正交,可以运用琼斯矩阵理论加以解释.偏振全息光栅可由外加电场控制衍射级的变化,即在外加电场作用下,正、负一级衍射产生了90°的相位差.在频率6.05 Hz、电压2.2 V的外场作用下,衍射级的极值振荡变化.     

菌紫质高密度偏振全息光数据存储实验研究

实验研究了基因改性菌紫质BR_D96N薄膜在不同偏振光记录下的全息存储特性，比较了不同 偏振态记录光和读出光对衍射像光强及信噪比的影响. 实验结果表明，与其他偏振全息记录 相比，正交圆偏振光记录可实现衍射光偏振状态与散射噪声偏振状态的分离，得到高信噪比 的衍射像，同时还具有高的衍射效率. 以 He_Ne 激光器（633nm，3mW）为记录和读出光源 ，用空间光调制器作为数据输入元件，CCD作为数据读出器件，采用傅里叶变换全息记录的 方法，在 BR_D96N 薄膜样品60μm×42μm的面积上进行了正交圆偏振全息数据存储，达到 了2×10⁸bit/cm²的存储面密度，并实现了编码数据的无误读出与 还原. 关键词： 菌紫质 偏振全息 光致变色 光致各向异性 高密度光存储     

Volume polarization holographic recording in thick phenanthrenequinone-doped poly(methyl methacrylate) photopolymer

Volume polarization holographic recording in phenanthrenequinone-doped poly (methyl methacrylate) photopolymer is obtained. Photoinduced birefringence in a 2 mm thick sample is measured by a phase-modulated ellipsometry. The birefringence induced in this material by linearly polarized beam at 514 nm reaches 1.2×10(-5). In addition, ability for recording volume polarization grating using two different polarization configurations is demonstrated and compared. The experimental results show that the diffraction efficiency of the hologram reaches to ～40% by using two orthogonal circularly polarized beams.     

Exact solution of stationary holographic four-wave mixing in photorefractive crystals: two-level model

Based on the two-level model of recording and read-out of dynamic holographic gratings, precise expressions for wave amplitudes, diffraction efficiency and the gain coefficient representing the generalization of the corresponding formula by Kukhtarevet al. have been obtained. This model allows one to take into account the effect of the read-out beam on the holographic grating and to solve a problem of four-wave mixing in transmission geometry with wave depletion and arbitrary value of the spatial phase shift between the holographic grating and the interference pattern.     

Azodye Gelatin Films for Polarization Holographic Recording

Mordant pure yellow azodye in a matrix of gelatin is proposed as a medium for stable polarization recording. Relatively high values of birefringence are measured (over #x0394;n = 0.02). Polarization diffraction gratings are recorded with two circularly polarized waves and diffraction efficiency of 67#x0025; is achieved at 633 nm. Protected from the humidity, the recording is stable. Long-term radiation by a 633 nm probe beam is harmless as well. Unusual behaviour is observed when acting on the recorded grating alternatively with one of the recording beams. The left circularly polarized beam erases the grating sharply, while the right circularly polarized beam, before erasure, initially increases the diffraction efficiency.This paper was originally presented at the 2001 International Conference (2nd Joint OSJ-SPIE Conference) on Optical Engineering for Sensing and Nanotechnology, ICOSN 2001 which was held June 6-8, 2001 at the Pacifico-Yokohama Conference Center, Yokohama, Japan.     

基于全息光学元件的光纤光谱仪的光路设计

基于全息光学理论分析了全息光学元件的高斯成像性质,包括光焦度、成像位置、衍射效率以及作为光纤光谱仪光栅元件的可行性,并以全息光栅的成像理论以及光谱仪工作原理为基础,设计了光谱仪器光学系统的各个参数,通过Zemax软件的仿真、像质评价及优化,得出最终的参数和模拟结果。所使用的全息光栅记录波长为575 nm,记录光束之间的夹角为10,一束为平面波,一束为球面波,焦距40 mm,使用+1级衍射光,光栅孔径为10 mm。光谱仪的工作波长范围为400 nm～800 nm,体积140 mm*30 mm*40 mm,谱面展宽29.1 mm。通过在光学平台上搭建光路,利用已研发完成的电路系统及光谱仪软件,针对汞灯光谱进行了试验,光谱分辨率优于8 nm,测量得到的汞灯光谱与标准汞灯光谱一致,表明了所设计的基于全息元件的光纤光谱仪光学系统是可行的。     

Polarization holographic gratings with high diffraction efficiency recorded in azopolymer PAZO

Azopolymers are one of the most efficient materials able to record the polarization state of light. They have numerous applications, such as data storage and diffractive optical elements with unique polarization properties. An essential parameter for each diffractive element is its diffraction efficiency η. In order to optimize the recording conditions and obtain high-efficient polarization holographic gratings, in the present work we study the dependence of the diffraction efficiency on the recording angle and thickness of a series of azopolymer layers. Three recording angles are used ??10°, 20° and 30° and three series of thin films with thicknesses 470, 850 and 2400 nm from the water-soluble azopolymer PAZO. The gratings are inscribed by two plain waves with left and right circular polarization from a He-Cd gas laser (442 nm). The diffraction efficiency of the gratings is probed with a right hand circularly polarized beam from a probe laser with wavelength 635 nm. The kinetics of diffraction efficiency η(t) in the +?1 diffraction order are presented and compared. Our experimental results indicate that highest diffraction efficiency (more than 40%) is obtained for the sample with thickness 2400 nm and for recording angle 10°. As the holographic recording in azopolymers is usually accompanied by formation of surface relief gratings, the surface topography of the recorded samples is also investigated by atomic force microscopy.     

Ce:KNSBN晶体衍射特性研究

在非同时读出条件下测量了Ce:KNSNB晶体两波耦合体光栅衍射效率随写入光强比、写入光偏振态和写入光夹角的变化关系,并与同时读出条件下衍射效率变化规律的测量结果进行了比较,发现二者基本一致.利用耦合波理论对实验结果进行了理论分析和拟合,拟合结果和实验数据较好的吻合.     

Thermal polarization properties of thick anisotropic diffraction holograms recorded in polymer-dispersed liquid crystals

The diffraction and polarization properties of thick anisotropic holographic gratings recorded in polymer-dispersed liquid crystals are studied experimentally and theoretically. Such gratings are anisotropic and sensitive to temperature variations and also exhibit a strong dependence of the diffraction properties on the incident radiation polarization because of the presence of liquid-crystal molecules. The dependences of the diffraction efficiency and diffracted beam polarization orientation on the diffraction grating temperature and incident beam linear polarization are obtained for the case of Bragg incidence. The same dependences are derived using the known experimental temperature curves of the liquid crystal permittivity. The experimental data are in agreement with the theoretical calculations. The feasibility of controlling the diffraction characteristics of the grating in a wide temperature interval is demonstrated.     

Optically switchable, polarization-independent holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal (H-PDLC) gratings

An optically switchable, polarization-independent holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal (H-PDLC) transmission grating is demonstrated by adding azobenzene-LC and chiral molecules into the H-PDLC formulation. The optical switchable mechanism is from the trans-cis photoisomerization of the doped azobenzene-LC, which modulates the refractive index of the LC rich area. The dependence of the diffraction efficiency of the H-DPLC grating without chiral molecules on light polarization suggests that the orientation of LC directors within the droplet is ellipsoidal and uniaxial. However, the addition of chiral molecules into the H-PDLC formulation helps the formation of isotropic and non-uniaxial LC directors within the droplets. The polarization properties of the grating are investigated and analyzed by the coupled and modified coupled wave theory with a model of sinusoidal dielectric modulation. The results show that the addition of chiral molecules changes the LC phase from nematic to chiral-nematic, where the grating efficiency, which is modulated by the photoinduced phase transition, is independent of the polarization of incident light. Our findings may help improve optical systems that utilize non-polarized light.     

反射型体全息光栅对超短脉冲激光光束衍射的性质

在光栅记录介质色散效应的影响下,拓展Kogelnik的耦合波理论研究了反射型体全息光栅对偏振方向垂直和平行于入射面的超短脉冲激光光束衍射的性质。结果表明对于记录在LiNbO3光折变晶体中的体全息光栅,在色散效应、光栅参量和入射条件的共同影响下,光栅对偏振方向垂直于入射面的超短脉冲激光光束衍射的光谱带宽大于对偏振方向平行于入射面的超短脉冲激光光束衍射的光谱带宽,在不考虑光栅介质色散效应的影响时,它们都变大。进一步给出了衍射光的光谱带宽及光栅的衍射效率随入射脉冲的光谱带宽与光栅的光谱带宽比值的变化情况。     

Orientational holographic gratings observed in nematics aligned by carbon nanotube film

In this paper, we present a novel type of nematic liquid crystal cell with carbon nanotube film deposited by electrophoresis as the alignment layer. Self-diffraction was observed without applying a dc voltage across the cell under low intensity optical irradiation of a few milliwatts at 488 nm. The first-order diffraction efficiency increased and the response time of the grating decreased with the applied dc voltage increasing up to the dynamic scattering threshold voltage at 4 V (the corresponding dc electric field was 0.2 V/μm). A diffraction efficiency of ∼20%, the grating formation time of 0.5 s and an effective refractive index change coefficient of 0.14 cm²/W were obtained at 3.7 V with a writing beam intensity of 33 mW/cm². These observed phenomena were attributed to the photoactive charge layer formed at the interface of the carbon nanotube film and the liquid crystal film. PACS 42.65.Hw; 42.70.Df; 42.70.Nq; 42.40.Eq     

Nonlinear diffraction in gratings based on polymer–dispersed TiO 2 nanoparticles

In this letter we report a simple technique to produce volume holographic gratings based on photopolymerizable composites containing TiO₂ nanoparticles. Diffraction gratings with high refractive index modulation amplitude (up to 1.25 × 10⁻²) have been formed due to the periodic distribution of high refractive index nanoparticles in a low refractive index polymer matrix. The diffraction efficiency increases strongly on increasing the nanoparticle concentration. Taking the mixture with 10 wt.% TiO₂ nanoparticles, gratings with high diffraction efficiency, low level of scattering and high transparency in the visible-wavelength range have been obtained. This will ultimately lead to different applications of diffractive optical elements based on nanocomposites. The dependence of the gratings’ diffraction efficiency on the intensity of probe laser pulses at 1064 nm has been explored. It is shown that the nonlinear response of the gratings is attributed mainly to the nonlinear properties of the TiO₂ nanoparticles embedded in the polymer matrix. The mechanism of the grating formation and the reasons for the nonlinear behavior of the diffraction efficiency are discussed.     

Diffraction efficiency increase by corona discharge in photoinduced surface-relief gratings on an azo polymer film

The diffraction efficiency of a surface-relief grating (SRG) was dramatically increased by corona discharge. We fabricated this SRG by applying surface modulation to azo polymer films, using laser interference fringes. The electric charge was deposited upon the SRG by a corona discharge in an oven. The first-order diffraction efficiency measured before and after corona discharge above the glass-transition temperature increased from ~2% to ~40% in a SRG written with a circularly polarized beam. The relief depth of the SRG as measured with an atomic-force microscope also increased, from ~130 nm to ~450 nm. The increase in diffraction efficiency was independent of the writing polarization.