Surface relief grating recording in azo polymer films

In this work holographic recording of surface relief grating in organic Poly(Disperse Red 1 – methacrylate) thin films was studied. In this compound azo dye is chemically bonded to monomers making mass transport very efficient in the presence of optical field gradient. Sample preparation was performed using different solvents and coating methods. In the obtained samples holographic recording was performed by solid-state diode pump laser with 532 nm wavelength. Polarization grating and surface relief grating formation was studied by diode laser with 660 nm wavelength. Diffraction efficiency's dependence on read-out laser beam polarization state was investigated. The depth of surface relief grating was measured by AFM and studied in dependence on recording beam intensity, exposure and thickness of the sample.