Efficient Configuration Transition in a New Azobenzene-LC Polymer for Red Light Holographic Recording

We demonstrate cis-to-trans transition based red light holographic recording in an azobenzene-liquid crystal (LC) polymer material following efficient crucial transition of trans-to-cis, which is prepared by selected wavelength light pre-illumination. The presence and orientation of soft liquid crystal impregnating the polymer backbone allows the cis intermediate states to hold for the stable red hologram recording and non-destructive readout. Using a 50 nm bandwidth light source at the center wavelength of 575 nm, we have efficient pre-illumination on the material. The diffraction efficiency of up to 2% can be achieved by a HeNe laser at 632.8 nm wavelength, and two-dimensional holograms of USAF resolution target are successfully recorded.