Abstract
Optical switching with single nanosecond laser pulses of wavelength is reported using high-efficiency optical axis gratings made with a nematic liquid crystal doped with an azobenzene dye. The azobenzene dye we have synthesized exhibits enhanced photosensitivity at green wavelengths, allowing for low threshold switching . The dye is also characterized by fast relaxation of isomers, allowing for restoration of the diffractive properties of the grating within . Change of the diffraction efficiency of the zeroth-order beam from 10% to 70% is observed in a micrometer-thick material layer.
© 2009 Optical Society of America
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