NOVEL SENSITIZED PHOTOCHROMIC ORGANIC GLASS FOR HOLOGRAPHIC OPTICAL STORAGE

A new class of photochromic glasses for use in irreversible holographi c optical storage applications is described. The recording mechanism i nvolves a triplet-sensitized photoreaction of an organic chromophore. The materials are isotropic and red-sensitive, and exhibit high diffra ction efficiencies and long hologram lifetimes. The wavelength sensiti vity can be adjusted by the choice of sensitizer; C-60, sensitive in t he red, is described here. Single digital data page recording and erro r-free readout are demonstrated at a density of 0.5 Mb/cm(2); multiple xing in a 150-mu m-thick sample is also demonstrated. (C) 1996 America n Institute of Physics.