Fast optical recording in dye-doped polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal films

We describe a fast optical recording material based on a dye-doped polymer- dispersed liquid-crystal film. A holographic grating is written in this fil m with a single Q-switched Nd:YAG laser pulse that has a duration of simila r to6 ns. Such a grating is due to the reorientation effect of the liquid-c rystal molecules through interaction with the photoinduced adsorption of th e doped azo dyes. Experimental results indicate that the grating thus forme d is permanent but electrically switchable. (C) 2001 Optical Society of Ame rica.