PHOTO-FABRICATION OF SURFACE-RELIEF GRATINGS ON POLYMER-FILMS

Surface relief gratings were optically produced on a number of azobenz ene-based polymer films. The surface grating formation was investigate d by monitoring the diffraction efficiency and using atomic force micr oscopy. The effect of the structure of the chromophores on surface mod ulation was investigated. The surface deformation process depended on the polarization state of the writing beams. The localized variations of the light intensity and alteration of the resulting electric field polarization were essential writing conditions to the formation of the surface relief gratings. The surface pattern from straight edge diffr action established that the surface profile of the recorded gratings i s proportional to negative gradient of the intensity pattern incident on the polymer film.