Biphotonic holographic gratings in azobenzene polyesters: Surface relief phenomena and polarization effects

Abstract
Biphotonic holographic gratings have been recorded in a side-chain azobenzene liquid crystalline polyester using a blue incoherent source and a He–Ne laser. Intensity gratings and the appearance of surface relief have been observed when two linearly polarized beams from a He–Ne laser are made to interfere on a film illuminated with blue light. Polarized holographic gratings are also created with two orthogonally circularly polarized He–Ne beams. All these gratings are stable in darkness but can be erased with blue light.