Abstract
The writing and erasing properties of azo-dye-doped polymer thin films at a blue wavelength were investigated. The optically induced birefringence in the polymer film due to a linearly polarized light can be utilized for digital optical data storage. The dependence of the contrast of a stored pattern on temperature was examined to estimate the thermal stability of the polymer films. Bits could be written and erased by irradiation of the linearly and circularly polarized laser beam, respectively.