Azo-dye-doped cellulose acetate for optical data storage and processing

Dynamic holography and cross modulation techniques are used to study a new photosensitive polymeric material, cellulose acetate doped with the azo-dye DR1. This allowed the identification of the principal photophysical mechanisms involved in the resonant photoexcitation processes. Angular hole burning and reorientation mechanisms are used to write intensity and polarization holograms of comparable diffraction efficiency. Application of the material for the creation of polarization manipulation holographic elements is demonstrated.