Mechanical behavior of holographic material in a high vacuum and with temperature changes

Abstract

Evaluation of the mechanical properties of films of the materials currently employed for recording diffractive optical elements is very important in order to foresee their mechanical behavior during the photochemical processing following recording of the interference pattern. This will also provide information about the mechanical and thermal stability of holograms recorded on these materials, which may be tested in the different environments in which the final application of the optical elements will be used. For quantitative evaluation of these properties in an acrylamide based photopolymeric system, a study was carried out on layers of films of polyvinylalcohol and polyvinylalcohol mixed with triethanolamine. Layers coated on glass substrate were subjected to both a high vacuum and temperature changes. Real time measurements of optical path variations in the film were performed using a vacuum interferometric measurement system.