POLARIZATION HOLOGRAPHIC GRATINGS WITH SURFACE-RELIEF IN AMORPHOUS AZOBENZENE CONTAINING METHACRYLIC COPOLYMERS

Two types of high-efficiency amorphous methacrylic azobenzene polymer for reversible holographic storage are synthesized. It is shown that t heir efficiency is due to both photoinduced linear birefringence and s urface relief. The contributions of these two effects on the diffracti on efficiency of the holographic gratings are separated using the meth ods of polarization holography and it is found that they are strongly influenced by the differences in the chemical structure of the polymer s. It is shown that higher relief corresponds to stronger coupling bet ween the azobenzene side chains and the main chains of the polymer mol ecules.