Multiplexing holograms in an acrylamide photopolymer

Abstract

A peristrophic multiplexing method is used to store various diffraction gratings at the same spot in the material. This material is formed of acrylamide photopolymers which are considered interesting materials for recording holographic memories. They have high diffraction efficiency (ratio between diffracted and incident beams), high energetic sensitivity and optical quality, and developing processes are not necessary. In this work, the photopolymer is composed of acrylamide (AA) as the polymerizable monomer, triethanolamine (TEA) as radical generator, N,N′methylene-bis-acrylamide (BMA) as crosslinker, yellowish eosin (YE) as sensitizer and a binder of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The layers of material obtained are approximately 1 mm thick. Using holographic recording schedules, the exposure energy each hologram should receive in order to achieve uniform diffraction efficiency is optimized. The purpose of these recording schedules is to enable full advantage to be taken of the whole dynamic range of the material and to share it between the individual holograms. The Scheduled Exposure Method (SEM) and the Incremental Exposure Method (IEM) are the two multiplexing schedules used to determine the recording times. Having determined these times, the results obtained with both methods are compared to ascertain which method enables the greatest number of holograms to be recorded with the highest, most uniform diffraction efficiencies.