Williams GVM, Do MTT, Raymond SG, Bhuiyan MDH, Kay AJ. Optically switchable diffraction grating in a photochromic/polymer thin film.
Appl Opt 2015;
54:6882-6886. [PMID:
26368105 DOI:
10.1364/ao.54.006882]
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Abstract
An optically switchable diffraction grating has been made in a thin film containing a photochromic dye and amorphous polycarbonate. We show that a film containing the dye 5-chloro-1,3-dihydro-1,3,3-trimethylspiro[2H-indole-2,3'-(3H)naphth[2,1-b](1,4)oxazine] can be optically processed so that a diffraction grating can be completely switched on by ultraviolet light and turned off by thermal relaxation. The ability to switch or modulate the diffraction efficiency has a number of practical applications that include optical switches and add/drop multiplexers.
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