Holographic grating generation in thick polymer films containing azo dye molecules

The relationship between laser-induced birefringence in ate-dye-doped polym er films and the diffraction properties from holographic gratings were inve stigated under several experimental conditions. The diffraction properties, including writing power and film thickness dependence, were well-explained by estimating the diffraction efficiencies from characteristics of laser-i nduced birefringence and Fraunhofer's diffraction theory. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.