Mechanisms of optical anisotropy induction in azopolymer films

The process of optical anisotropy indiction in azopolymer films upon irradiation by polarized UV light is studied by means of UV and IR birefringence spectroscopy. A substantial dependence of the character of the relaxation of the induced anisotropy on the exposure time to the exciting light is revealed: whereas the process of anisotropy induction is reversible at small exposure times, at large exposure times the induced anisotropy virtually does not relax and even increases after the irradiation is terminated. A difference between kinetic curves of dichroism and birefringence induction is shown: at exposure times corresponding to the saturation of the induced dichroism a slow increase in the birefringence curve is observed. Results obtained are explained in terms of the assumption of partial ordering of macrochain fragments in irradiated films. The assumption is substantiated by measurements of polarized IR spectra. Institute of Physics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 46, Nauka Ave., Kiev, 252650, Ukraine. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 65, No. 1, pp. 121–125, January–February, 1998.     

Electro-optical properties and photopolarization anisotropy of methacrylic azopolymer films

We have synthesized polymethacrylates with azobenzene side moieties and “spacers” of different lengths. We have studied the spectra and kinetics of the electro-optical effect appearing in films of such azopolymers after they are exposed to linearly polarized light. The nature of the electro-optical effect is explained by the appearance of photoinduced optical anisotropy in the films, due to a change in the ratio of the concentrations of trans and cis isomers of the azobenzene moieties. The characteristic time required for establishment and relaxation of photoinduced optical anisotropy correlates with the times required for a change in the dielectric characteristics of the studied films when exposed to linearly polarized light. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 76, No. 2, pp. 307–310, March–April, 2009.     

Recording of one-dimensional holograms in MnBi films

A new system of holographic recording on moving MnBi film is described. The data to be stored are recorded in a track of non-overlapping 1-d Fourier holograms. A cavity-dumped argon laser is used for writing. The feasibility of this new system has been demonstrated by writing and erasing tracks consisting of 20 μm by 2 μm holograms. A maximum bit density of 10⁷ bit/cm² and a writing data rate of 10⁸ bit/s should be attainable with such a system.     

Reflection-type polarization holograms in bacteriorhodopsin films for low-light recording

Reflection-type polarization holograms with phase-conjugated readout are very useful for low-light recording with bacteriorhodopsin (BR) films. The dependence of reflection-type holograms with parallel and orthogonal recording beams on their intensity ratio (1:1-1:20) was investigated. It was found that for orthogonally polarized beams the phase-conjugated signal depends significantly less on the beam intensity ratio than predicted by coupled-wave theory. This finding is of particular relevance for recording of very low object-beam intensities with BR films, e.g., in interferometry, where signals with a high signal-to-noise ratio, owing to the different polarizations of the scattered light and the signal, and with low dependence of the diffraction efficiency on the ratio between the reference and object-beam intensities are obtained. With this asymmetric recording process, holograms were recorded successfully in BR films with a good signal-to-noise ratio at exposures (from the object side) as low as 50muJ/cm(2) . These exposures are in the range of those typically used for silver halide films.     

The use of commercial fine-grain films for computer-generated holograms

The possible use of commercial fine-grain films for computer-generated binary holograms is described. Three different types of film are used. Image quality improves with film resolution but if the resolving power is higher than a minimum value needed for the phase level resolution, the contrast (γ value) of the film has a pronounced effect on the quality of the image reconstructed optically from the hologram. The possible generation of binary holograms by computers with reduced central memory is also studied.     

利用傅里叶变换全息图实现彩色胶片存储

本文提出一种利用傅里叶变换全息图存储彩色胶片的方法.在参考光路和透明片后置入采栅,以红、绿、蓝三种波长记录+1级谱的点全息图.当三色光分别照明各自的全息图时,可再现两个真彩色图像.     

Improved thermal stability of volume holograms recorded in nanoparticle--polymer composite films

We examine thermal distortions of volume holograms recorded in (meth)acrylate photopolymers doped with SiO(2) or ZrO(2) nanoparticles. A holographic method is used to evaluate the temperature-induced Bragg-angle detuning of recorded volume holograms as a result of thermally induced refractive index and dimensional changes. It is found that the incorporation of inorganic nanoparticles into photopolymer leads to the effective suppression of these thermal changes, thereby extending the range of operating temperatures for their use in photonic applications.     

Photoinduced linear and/or circular birefringences from light propagation through amorphous or smectic azopolymer films

The self-induced rotation of the azimuth of elliptically polarized light passing through birefringent azopolymer thin films is investigated. The experiments were carried out on thin films of the amorphous p(DR1M-co-MMA) and p(DR1M) azopolymer samples and of the p(6MAN) derivative in its glassy and liquid-crystalline phases. In fact, using various controlled input light ellipticities, linear birefringence (LB) and/or circular birefringence (CB) measurements were performed separately and in conjunction with polarization analyses of the transmitted pump beam. According to a general theoretical analysis based on Jones’ matrix formalism, it is thus shown that the induced rotation angle through the films depends mainly on the ellipticity of the input light, on the generated LB level and, to a lesser extent, on the CB photoinduced in the liquid-crystalline phase. In the latter case, it is concluded that irradiation with circularly polarized light does induce a chiral arrangement in the polymer film, although the photosensitive chromophores do not contain any optically active group. Received: 22 April 2002 / Revised version: 28 May 2002 / Published online: 25 September 2002 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +33-5/5684-8402; E-mail: csouri@morgane.lsmc.u-bordeaux.fr     

“Running” holograms in photorefractive Bi12SiO20 crystals

It is shown that under uniform illumination and application of an external electric field, a phase volume hologram in a photorefractive crystal exists in the form of relaxing running wave. Effective recording of such a running hologram is possible only by an interference pattern moving synchronously with the recorded grating. The physical nature of this phenomenon, the possible enhancement of the hologram diffraction efficiency upon recording of a running pattern and the main factors limiting its value are discussed for the case of photorefractive Bi₁₂SiO₂₀ crystals.     

Dynamic holograms recording in fullerene-containing solid-state matrices: Porous glass slides and PMMA films

Fullerene-containing solid-state matrices were studied theoretically and experimentally as the active material for all-optical switching devices. Dynamics hologram recording and spectral analysis were used to study temporal stability and efficiency of nonlinear response of the media. Porous glass and polymethylmethacrylate hosts were utilized as C₆₀-containing matrices. Experiments were carried out using nano- and picosecond laser radiation with wavelength 532 nm.     

Atom-optics holograms

The temporal evolution of atomic wave packets interacting with object and reference electromagnetic waves is investigated, and an analytical solution for the off-resonant density matrix is presented. It is shown that, under certain physical conditions, the diffraction of an ultracold atomic beam by an inhomogeneous laser field can be interpreted as if the beam passes through a three-dimensional hologram. We show that high diffraction efficiencies can be realized if one restricts the extent of the atomic hologram in the time domain rather than in space. The hologram, thus, can work in a pulsed regime pumping atoms from the beam or from the initial wave packet into the reconstructed matter wave. The suggested regime is well compatible with the Raman cooling methods and the recent realization of an atom laser, which are capable of repeatedly reproducing coherent, or almost coherent, atomic wave packets necessary for the actual implementation of the reading beam. It is found that the diffraction efficiency of such a hologram may reach 100% and is determined by the duration of laser pulses. On this basis, a new method for the reconstruction of the object image with matter waves is offered. The latter may have useful practical applications, ranging from atom lithography, to the manufacturing of microstructures, and quantum microfabrication.     

Microcomputer-generated holograms

A microcomputer system consisting of a personal computer and a plotter has been used to produce good quality computer-generated holograms of the Lohmann type.     

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.     

Full-view rainbow-reflection holograms

A simple method of recording full-view rainbow-reflection holograms on a single flat plate is described: only one white-light illuminating source is required in the reconstruction process. The hologram can be viewed from opposite sides, where each side of a three-dimensional object, with its original spatial relationship, is displayed in bright colours.     

二次再现全息图

目前 ,光学防伪技术已广泛应用于钞票、信用卡、各种证件和高档商品上。全息术是一种被广泛认知的光学防伪技术 ,编码加密技术是提高它防伪功能的重要手段。二次再现全息图是根据全息图能够进行多次记录和多次再现的特点提出的一种加密全息图。在一定的照明条件下 ,它的再现光经过一个平面反射镜的反射返回到全息图 ,作为它的第二束照明光 ,这时能够再现出被加密的图像。它是由一个像全息图和一个参考光编码全息图组合而成的。一般情况下 ,二次再现全息图存在再现光路恢复困难的问题。利用低频光栅能够较好地解决这一问题 ,使二次再现全息图达到实用性的要求。该技术用于防伪产品可提高它的防伪力度。给出了详细的理论分析、制作方法和实验结果