Stability of holographic gratings recorded in photopolymer films using different dyes

Abstract

In this study, stability of holographic gratings recorded in four photopolymer films with different dyes was experimentally examined. Also, dye concentration was optimized to get high diffraction efficiency. Each film contains triethanolamine and acrylamide in polyvinyl alcohol matrix, and one type of dye: eosin Y, methyl violet, rhodamine B or rose bengal. Dye concentrations were adjusted so that transmittances of the four films 60 μm thick were approximately 94%. The photopolymer films were exposed by two intersecting beams of a YVO laser at 532 nm to form holographic grating with spatial frequency of 653 line/mm until the diffraction efficiency reached its maximum. The power of each recording beam was 10 mW, and its diameter was 2.25 mm each. Diffraction efficiency was measured using a YVO laser beam for the recorded films undergoing either 300 sec reconstruction or 5-day dark storage. The photopolymer film containing eosin Y showed the best stability both for a 300 sec reconstruction and for 5-day storage. Regarding optimization of dye concentration, the diffraction efficiencies of more than 60 % were obtained when an amount of eosin Y is between 1 mg and 50 mg, which was solved in 9.1 % polyvinyl alcohol aqueous solution of 110 g.