Holographic Reflection Gratings Research Articles

Manufacturing reflection holographic couplers for see-through applications recorded in photopolymers without prisms: An experimental validation

In the present work, the viability of a novel recording geometry to produce reflection holographic couplers is analyzed. Recalling the idea of previous works, photopolymers are used as the recording material because they have been proven to be well-suited for the intended see-through application: the capability to provide a virtual image without compromising the information about the surrounding environment. Moreover, holography fundamentals give us the proper background to examine the proposed design, where no prisms or microlenses arrays are used. Aiming to support the analysis, we provide experimental evidence that the produced reflection holographic gratings exhibit the correct properties to work as a coupler, where the sensitivity of the material and its properties are studied and examined.

Reflection holographic photopolymer gratings with an anharmonic modulation of the refractive index

Reflection holographic photopolymer gratings with an anharmonic modulation of the refractive index

Understanding diffraction grating behavior, part II: parametric diffraction efficiency of sinusoidal reflection (holographic) gratings

With the widespread availability of electromagnetic (vector) analysis codes for describing the diffraction of electromagnetic waves by periodic grating structures, the insight and understanding of nonparaxial parametric diffraction grating behavior afforded by approximate methods (i.e., scalar diffraction theory) is being ignored in the education of most optical engineers today. We show that the linear systems formulation of nonparaxial scalar diffraction theory enables the development of a scalar parametric diffraction grating model [for transverse electric (TE) polarization] for sinusoidal reflection gratings with arbitrary groove depths and arbitrary nonparaxial incident and diffracted angles. This scalar parametric analysis is remarkably accurate as it includes the ability to redistribute the energy from evanescent orders into the propagating ones, thus allowing the calculation of nonparaxial diffraction efficiencies to be predicted with an accuracy usually thought to require rigorous electromagnetic theory. These scalar parametric predictions of diffraction efficiency are compared to paraxial scalar and rigorous electromagnetic (vector) predictions for a variety of nonparaxial diffraction grating configurations, thus providing quantitative limits of applicability of nonparaxial scalar diffraction theory to sinusoidal reflection gratings as a function of the grating period-to-wavelength ratio (λ / <italic>d</italic>).

LED-Cured Reflection Gratings Stored in an Acrylate-Based Photopolymer.

The storage of volume holographic reflection gratings in low-toxicity photopolymers represents a challenge at present since they can be used in many important applications such as biosensors and holographic optical elements. In this context, an acrylate-based photopolymer developed in our research group was employed to study the recording of unslanted holographic reflection gratings at high spatial frequencies. The optimal preparation conditions of the photopolymer layers were determinated. The diffraction efficiencies are measured in both recording and curing stage and a comparative study of these values was realized. In addition, a theoretical study using Kogelnik’s coupled wave theory was carried out with the aim of understanding the diffraction efficiency behaviour of both processes. In this work, a maximum diffraction efficiency of 14.1% was reached after a curing process in 150 µm layers at a recording wavelength of 488 nm. This value represents a good result compared to that reported in the literature and opens the way to reflection mode holography research using low-toxicity material.

Experimental study of high-order reflections on volume reflection holographic gratings

Samples of volume reflection gratings with a wide range of periods are obtained using a holographic setup with prism coupling of radiation into the recording layer of a photopolymer material. High-order reflections on these gratings are experimentally detected. The dependence of the characteristics of observed reflections on the grating parameters and recording conditions are discussed, and the experimental and calculated wavelengths of the reflections are compared.

Detection of High-Order Reflexes on Volume Reflection Holographic Gratings

High-order reflexes on volume reflection holographic gratings in a photopolymer material are experimentally detected.

Comparison of the Diffraction Efficiency of Reflection Holographic Gratings for Different Recording Schemes in Photopolymer Materials

The relationship of the diffraction efficiencies of volume reflection holograms obtained with the use of double-beam and single-beam recording schemes in absorbing light-sensitive materials is studied theoretically and experimentally. This relationship is demonstrated by an example of a particular photopolymer material.

Full‐Polymer Cholesteric Composites for Transmission and Reflection Holographic Gratings

A new type of self‐organized materials based on cholesteric networks filled with photoactive side‐chain copolymer is being developed. Supramolecular helical structure of cholesteric polymer network resulting in the selective reflection is used as a photonic scaffold. Photochromic azobenzene‐containing nematic copolymer is embedded in cholesteric scaffold and utilized as a photoactive media for optical pattering. 1D and 2D transmission diffraction gratings are successfully recorded in composite films by holographic technique. For the first time the possibility to create selective reflection gratings in cholesteric material mimicking the natural optical properties of cholesteric mesophase is demonstrated. That enables the coexistence of two selective gratings, where one has an intrinsic cholesteric periodic helical structure and the other is a holographic grating generated in photochromic polymer. The full‐polymer composites provide high light‐induced optical anisotropy due to effective photo‐orientation of side‐chain fragments of the azobenzene‐containing liquid crystalline polymer, and prevent the degradation of the helical superstructure maintaining all optical properties of cholesteric mesophase. The proposed class of optical materials could be easily applied to a broad range of polymeric materials with specific functionality. The versatility of the adjustment and material preprogramming combined with high optical performance makes these materials a highly promising candidate for modern optical and photonic applications.

Spectral properties of a cascade of holographic reflection gratings separated by a uniform layer

This paper presents the results of experimental studies of the spectral properties of stratified structures consisting of two volume holographic reflection gratings separated by an optically uniform layer. When such structures are illuminated by polychromatic light, the interference of the waves generated by these gratings leads to the formation of a set of narrow spectral passbands. The period of arrangement of the passbands is determined by the optical thickness of the intermediate layer, and their envelope coincides with the spectral selectivity contour of one grating. The existence of this type of spectra with local passbands spaced 2–8 A apart (in different experiments) was confirmed experimentally. A high-resolution Ramanor U1000 spectrometer and an optical Fabry–Perot interferometer were used. It is found that the nonuniformity of the internal structure of the holographic gratings due to the imperfection of the recording medium substantially distorts the spectral characteristics of the studied structures in comparison with their simple theoretical models: the spectrum is asymmetric and the transmission of the local bands is significantly lower than the estimated value. Similarity between the experimental data and simulation results was achieved by selecting the parameters of said nonuniformity.

Design of Dynamic Gain Equalizer With H-PDLC Reflection Gratings Doped With Ag Nanoparticles

In this letter, the characteristics of holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystal reflection gratings doped with Ag nanoparticles (NPs) and their incorporation with dynamic gain equalizers are reported. Experimental results show that the addition of small quantities of Ag NPs causes considerable effects on holographic reflection gratings. Reflection efficiency of gratings improves with the addition of a 0.2% Ag NP solution. Refractive index modulation of doped gratings reached 4.8 × 10 <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">-3</sup> experimentally. Taking advantage of reflective wavelength and electrically controlled refractive index modulation of gratings, cascades for several grating-based dynamic gain equalizers were proposed and testified. These can be incorporated with erbium-doped fiber amplifiers. Simulated results show that the fluctuation range of a typical gain spectrum for an erbium-doped fiber amplifier can be reduced from 3.3 to 0.23 dB.

Modeling the diffraction efficiency of holographic microgratings

Microlocalized holographic reflection gratings enable high-density three-dimensional optical data storage. Diffraction of light by these microholograms is modeled using a far-field approximation of the volume integral, which reduces the computational effort from 3D to 1D numerical integration. With this method, the diffraction efficiency is calculated, spatially resolved in terms of the dependence on the lateral and longitudinal scan position. The impact of the numerical aperture is analyzed. The potential of wavelength multiplexing is investigated by calculating the wavelength selectivity of microholograms.

Analysis of holographic reflection gratings recorded in polyvinyl alcohol/acrylamide photopolymer

Holographic reflection gratings in a polyvinyl alcohol/acrylamide based photopolymer were stored using symmetrical geometry in three different thicknesses of the material. The advantage of symmetrical geometry is that exact expressions for transmittance, reflectance, and electric fields can be obtained analytically. Using these expressions, experimental data were fitted to obtain parameters such as refractive index modulation, spatial period of the grating, optical thickness or shrinkage of the material.

Analytical treatment of the polychromatic spatially multiplexed volume holographic grating

An alternative model to N-coupled wave theory of the spatially multiplexed finite thickness volume holographic reflection grating is developed from the parallel stacked mirrors (PSM) model in terms of N infinite arrays of parallel stacked mirrors each characterized by a different grating vector. A plane reference wave interacts with each of the N sets of stacked mirrors, producing N signal waves. First-order coupled partial differential equations describing the detailed process of Fresnel reflection within the grating are derived for the reference and N signal waves. These equations can be solved analytically at Bragg resonance where agreement with conventional N-coupled wave theory is exact. The new model is compared for the case of some simple multiplexed volume phase reflection gratings at and away from Bragg resonance with a rigorous coupled-wave solution of the Helmholtz equation. Good agreement is attained for even rather high values of index modulation. For lower modulations more characteristic of modern holographic materials, agreement appears extremely good at and around Bragg resonance, although differences inevitably appear in the higher-order diffractive sideband structure. The analytic model is extended to cover polychromatic spatially multiplexed volume phase gratings at Bragg resonance, where once again agreement with rigorous coupled-wave calculations is very good for index modulations typical for modern holographic gratings. Finally, the model is extended to cover the case of the lossless multicolor phase-reflection hologram, where analytic and graphical results are presented concerning diffractive efficiency.

Virtual display design using waveguide hologram in conical mounting configuration

An improved virtual display is proposed by using a waveguide holographic configuration with two total internal reflection holographic gratings in conical mounting and two volume hologram in classical mounting recorded on a single transparent planar waveguide. Using this compact configuration, efficiency can be dramatically improved and assembly is easy to be realized. The main principle and the method of intensity uniformity control are present in the paper. The analysis and simulation results are also explained. The virtual display system design shows good optical performance with 25 deg. field of view, a large pupil about 43 mm, little distortion less than 1%, and low aberration. The configuration can be used to a portable or wearable display.

Matched spectral filter based on reflection holograms for analyte identification

A matched spectral filter set that provides automatic preliminary analyte identification is proposed and analyzed. Each matched spectral filter in the set containing the multiple spectral peaks corresponding to the Raman spectrum of a substance is capable of collecting the specified spectrum into the detector simultaneously. The filter set is implemented by multiplexed volume holographic reflection gratings. The fabrication of a matched spectral filter in an Fe:LiNbO(3) crystal is demonstrated to match the Raman spectrum of the sample Rhodamine 6G (R6G). An interference alignment method is proposed and used in the fabrication to ensure that the multiplexed gratings are in the same direction at a high angular accuracy of 0.0025 degrees . Diffused recording beams are used to control the bandwidth of the spectral peaks. The reflection spectrum of the filter is characterized using a modified Raman spectrometer. The result of the filter's reflection spectrum matches that of the sample R6G. A library of such matched spectral filters will facilitate a fast detection with a higher sensitivity and provide a capability for preliminary molecule identification.

Study of reflection gratings recorded in polyvinyl alcohol/acrylamide-based photopolymer

High-spatial-frequency fringes associated with reflection holographic optical elements are difficult to obtain with currently available recording materials. In this work, holographic reflection gratings were stored in a polyvinyl alcohol/acrylamide photopolymer. This material is formed of acrylamide photopolymer, which is considered interesting material for optical storage applications such as holographic memories. The experimental procedure for examining the high-spatial-frequency response of this material is explained, and the experimental results obtained are presented. With the aim of obtaining the best results, the performance of different material compositions is compared.

Nanocomposite polymeric materials for high density optical storage

We report the results of an extended investigation performed on composite polymeric materials with the aim of obtaining compounds suitable for holographic recording. In order to investigate the material properties a characterization of holographic reflection gratings at different writing wavelength (514.5, 457 and 405 nm) has been performed. The volume grating presents high diffraction efficiency (>60%), high sensitivity (>103 cm J−1) and refractive index modulation Δn≈0.01 even for writing wavelength in the blue range. We show that following a strategy of two basic components leading to phase separation during the photopolymerization process, most of the requirements for holographic data storage are achieved. The one that needs further improvement concerns long term mechanical stability.

Droplet deformation and alignment for high-efficiency polarization-dependent holographic polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal reflection gratings

Droplet deformation and alignment are achieved in holographic polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal reflection gratings by applying an in situ shear during recording. High diffraction efficiency (99%) is obtained for light polarized parallel to the shear, with nearly zero efficiency for perpendicular polarization, and no increase of incoherent scattering. Permanent polarization dependence is related to stress-induced morphology changes of liquid-crystal droplets that are frozen by polymerization. The system is studied by electron microscopy and modeled by anisotropic coupled-wave and scattering theory. The morphology is consistent with the theory of small deformations of liquid droplets in fluid flow. Diffraction efficiency measurements are in agreement with theory incorporating this morphology as well as concomitant orientation and alignment of liquid-crystal molecules.

Theory of light diffraction in thick anisotropic reflection holographic gratings

Diffraction of light in thick anisotropic holographic media is considered. Solutions for the wave amplitude, diffraction efficiency, and angular mismatch are given in the reflection geometry for the case of refractive index modulation. A comparison with Kogelnik’s isotropic theory is made.

Polarization effects at two-beam interaction on reflection holographic gratings in sillenite crystals

The polarization structure of the signal wave that interacts with a circularly polarized pump wave on the reflection holographic gratings in the (112)-, (111)-, and (110)-cut Bi12TiO20 (BTO) crystals is experimentally and theoretically analyzed. An analytical expression for the vector field of the signal wave that is valid for an arbitrary orientation of the cubic refractive crystal is derived using approximation of the nondepleting circularly polarized pump wave. The contribution of the absorption component of the reflection hologram into the counter interaction is estimated for the crystals under study using the approximation of the experimental data with theoretical curves. Based on the experiments with incoherent quasi-monochromatic radiation, it is demonstrated that the real BTO crystals exhibit weak induced linear birefringence.