Abstract.
Two-photon holographic photopolymerization was used to form switchable Bragg gratings composed of layers of phase-separated liquid-crystal (LC) domains interspersed with cured, crosslinked polymer. These holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystals form a periodic structure which diffracts red light due to nanostructured planes ∼250 nm in spacing. These structures were formed by interfering two 90-fs pulses coherently upon a reactive syrup consisting of acrylate monomer, liquid crystal, and a two-photon dye. The large two-photon cross-section allows excitation of the two-photon dye that results in electron transfer between this dye and the monomer. Diffraction efficiencies of approximately 10% were obtained, which can be modulated using an electric field applied across the film. Switching speeds below 1 ms were observed due in part to the small size of the LC domains.
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Received: 10 April 2001 / Accepted: 1 July 2001 / Published online: 2 October 2001
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Pikas, D., Kirkpatrick, S., Tomlin, D. et al. Electrically switchable reflection holograms formed using two-photon photopolymerization . Appl Phys A 74, 767–772 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s003390100953
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s003390100953