Surface relief gratings generated by pulsed holography: A simple way to polymer nanostructures without isomerizing side-chains

Photoaddressable polymers based on azobenzene side-chains have recently dra wn a lot of industrial attention due to their possible application as data storage media. From the scientific point of view an additional effect, the occurrence of light induced surface relief gratings, is nowadays extensivel y studied. This article describes the behavior of side-chain and guest-host polymers (with and without azobenzene groups) in holographic experiments w ith pulse lasers. We observe surface relief gratings also for polymers, whi ch only contain an absorbing, but nonisomerizing chromophore. Relief format ion in pulsed holographic experiments is shown to arise from thermal effect s, but not from trans-cis isomerization. (C) 2001 American Institute of Phy sics.