Abstract

Interconversion between metastable states of photochromic molecules can modulate the absorption and refractive index of doped polymer media. We describe the diffraction efficiency, sensitivity, and response times of holograms written with 633-nm light and erased with incoherent ultra-violet light using the commercially available benzospiropyran 1′,3′-dihydro-1′,3′,3′-trimethyl-6-nitrospiro[2H-1-benzopyran-2,2′-(2H)-indole] in various polymer hosts.

© 1993 Optical Society of America