Photochromic salicylideneaniline as a recording material for holography

Conclusion

This paper describes the preparation of α₁-SA samples, its photochromic properties, i.e. the kinetics of colouration and bleaching, and the recording properties of this material for holography. The formation of complex holograms in photochromic α₁-SA has been proven experimentally. Holograms of both transparent and diffusion objects were recorded. The use of phase changes for reading holograms using light with λ = 632.8 nm, which is outside the absorption band of the coloured state, enables non-destructive reading. In this work it was found that holograms can be recorded in α₁-SA using red light, which lies outside the absorption band of the coloured state. Holographic lattices were observed for an exposure of 2 J/cm¹ by red light with λ = 632.8 nm. In conclusion we can say that recording properties of the α₁-SA [1] and those of α₁-SA are differing only in their speeds of bleaching.

The simple preparation of α₁-SA layers and their low cost are of practical importance.