Chalcogenide glasses As2Se3 and AS(2)S(5) are studied by optical metho
ds. An optical grating is generated at the surface of the samples, and
as a result a long-lived refractive index grating is created. Tempora
l appearance and decay of the diffracted beam power follow the refract
ive index change Delta n(t) and this allows direct study of the Delta
n(t) behaviour. The electron-hole states with different degree of orde
ring are studied. It is found that the more ordered states have the sl
ower decay.