Real-time holographic reflection gratings in volume media of azo-dye-doped poly(methyl methacrylate).

Real-time formation of holographic reflection gratings is experimentally demonstrated in thick media of Disperse Red 1- (DR-1) doped poly(methyl methacrylate) at a nonresonant wavelength (647 nm). Our diffraction efficiencies of 30% and 23% are achieved for reflection gratings inscribed by spatial modulation of intensity and polarization, respectively, and are believed to be the highest achieved for a dye-doped polymer. In addition to the recording of amplitude and phase, the polarization state is also recorded and reconstructed.

High-efficiency holographic volume index gratings in DR1-dye-doped poly(methyl methacrylate).

Holographic volume index gratings with high diffraction efficiency (greater than 80%) are recorded in a thick sample of Disperse Red 1-doped poly(methyl methacrylate) with red light (647 nm), which is far away from the absorption peak (488 nm) of the material. Measurements of photoinduced birefringence and polarization holography recording confirm that the azo-dye reorientation mechanism is responsible for the grating formation. Energy coupling between the two writing beams is observed even when the incident beams have equal intensity.

Erasable holographic recording in photosensitive polymer optical fibers.

We report what is to our best knowledge the first holographic recording in photosensitive polymer optical fibers by guided beams. The fibers are made of poly(methyl methacrylate) doped with Disperse Red 1 dye. We also demonstrate what we believe is the first recording of Fourier-transform images in these fibers.