Polarization dependence of holographic surface relief gratings recorded on azobenzene polymers

We report our investigations of polarization dependent recording of surface relief gratings on azobenzene containing polymer films. The experimental results indicate that the localized variations of magnitude and polarization of the resultant electric field and the existence of a nonzero component of the resultant electric field along the light intensity gradient direction in the film are essential to the formation of the surface relief gratings. Large surface modulation (> 6500 angstroms) were obtained under optimal recording conditions. It has been found that under optimal recording condition, the diffraction efficiency of the surface relief grating is dependent only on the total light energy incident on the film surface and the diffraction efficiency increase rate is proportion to the intensity of recording beams.