Methylene blue sensitized dichromated gelatin holograms: a study of their storage life and reprocessibility.

The results of an experimental investigation on the storage life and reprocessibility of methylene blue sensitized dichromated gelatin (MBDCG) holograms are reported. The major conclusions of the investigation are: (i) Storage of MBDCG holograms in normal laboratory conditions for long periods is possible and it diminishes somewhat their diffraction efficiency. (ii) The results on short time storage and long time storage are almost similar, thus indicating that the diffraction efficiency can be stabilized through storage in a relatively short period of time. (iii) The deterioration in the diffraction efficiency on storage is less [D(eta) < 20%] for gratings of low/medium initial efficiency (eta < 70%) and it is more for gratings of high initial efficiency. (iv) About 65-95% restoration of the diffraction efficiency can be accomplished through reprocessing. (v) The restoration of diffraction efficiency is almost perfect [R(eta) > 80%] for gratings of low/medium initial efficiency (eta <75%) whereas it is rather imperfect for gratings having high initial efficiency.

Generation of phase conjugate waves in dichromated gelatin and related materials.

Evidence is reported, we believe for the first time, on the generation of phase conjugate waves in dichromated gelatin, methylene blue doped gelatin, and methylene blue doped dichromated gelatin.

Study of the pH dependence of diffraction efficiency of phase holograms in dye sensitized dichromated gelatin.

Dichromated gelatin is thought to be a good substitute for photographic emulsions in some uses. The results of a systematic study of the effect of the pH of the developer on the diffraction efficiency of volume holographic gratings recorded in dye sensitized dichromated gelatin are presented.

Role of external electron donor in methylene blue sensitized dichromated gelatin holograms: an experimental study.

An experimental study to ascertain the role of external electron donor in methylene blue sensitized dichromated gelatin (MBDCG) holograms has been carried out. The required volume holographic transmission gratings in MBDCG have been recorded using 633-nm light from a He-Ne laser. Three well-known electron donors, namely, N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF); ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA); triethanolamine (TEA), were used in this study. The variation of diffraction efficiency (eta) as a function of light exposure (E) and concentration (C) of the electron donor under consideration was chosen as the figure of merit for judging the role of external electron donor in MBDCG holograms. A self-consistent analysis of the experimental results was carried out by recalling the various known facts about the photochemistry and the hologram formation in DSDCG and also DCG. The important findings and conclusions are as follows: (i) Each eta vs E graph is a bell-shaped curve and its peak height is influenced in a characteristic manner by the external electron donor used. (ii) High diffraction efficiency/recording speed can be achieved in pure MBDCG holograms. (iii) The diffraction efficiency/recording speed achieved in electron donor sensitized MBDCG holograms did not show any significant improvement at all over that observed in pure MBDCG holograms. (iv) In electron donor sensitized MBDCG holograms, the electron donor used, depending on its type and concentration, appears to promote the process of cross-linking of gelatin molecules in a manner to either retain or deteriorate the refractive-index modulation achieved using pure MBDCG.

Role of spatial coherence on the rotation sensitivity of Lau fringes: an experimental study.

A simple technique involving the use of a rotating and a stationary diffuser has been developed to vary the spatial coherence of light from a He-Ne laser. Using this technique an experimental investigation of the dependence of rotation sensitivity of Lau fringes on the spatial coherence of the illuminating wavefield has been carried out. It is observed that (i) the rotation sensitivity of Lau fringes varies in a well-defined manner as a function of the spatial coherence of the light used; (ii) the extremely good rotation sensitivity of Lau fringes can be used to great advantage (compared to the conventional double slit method) in the measurement of the spatial coherence of a wavefield; (iii) Lau fringes are formed at various levels of spatial coherence and as such it appears that the Lau effect need not be associated with an incoherent optical field.

Sensitivity of Lau fringes to grating rotation: theoretical analysis.

Recently reported experimental results on the rotation sensitivity of Lau fringes to the spatial coherence of the source have been theoretically analyzed and explained on the basis of coherence theory. A theoretical plot of the rotation angle required for the Lau fringes to vanish is obtained as a function of the coherence length of the illumination used in the Lau experiment. The theoretical results compare well with the experimental observations. The analysis as well as the experiment could form the basis for a simple and easy measurement of the coherence length of the illumination in a plane.

Dichromated gelatin holograms: an investigation of their environmental stability.

An investigation of the stability of the diffraction efficiency of dichromated gelatin (DCG) holograms has been carried out paying specific attention to coated and baked holograms that are subsequently exposed to high humidity (RH > 60%) environment. The investigation has revealed that (a) the environmental stability of DCG holograms can be considerably improved either by coating or baking; (b) the DCG holograms can be used at temperatures well-above room temperature (for example, as high as 175 degrees C) without showing undue detrimental effects regarding their efficiency; and (c) the diffraction efficiency of uncoated and baked holograms can be restored by reprocessing whereas such a thing becomes impossible in coated holograms.