Holographic characteristics of an acrylamide/bisacrylamide photopolymer in 40–1000 µm thick layers

In this study we analyze the holographic behaviour of an acrylamide/bisacrylamide photopolymer in layers that range in thickness from 40 to 1000 µm. The photopolymer is composed of acrylamide as polymerizable monomer, N,N' methylene-bis-acrylamide as crosslinker, triethanolamine as radical generator, yellowish eosin as sensitizer and polyvinyl alcohol as binder. The composition and method of depositing the solution varies depending on the desired thickness of the final layer. For each thickness we analyze the holographic behaviour of the material during recording of unslanted diffraction gratings using a continuous argon laser (514 nm) at an intensity of 5 mW/cm2. The response of the material is monitored in real time with an He-Ne laser. The results obtained for the different parameters evaluated vary considerably depends on the layer thickness. Therefore, the different potential applications of the material (fabrication of holographic optical elements, use as recording material in holographic interferometry, or manufacture of holographic memories) depends on its thickness.This work was supported by the Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología, CICYT, Spain, under project MAT2000-1361-C04-04, and by Generalitat Valenciana, Spain, project GV01-130